Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after--but this is no fairytale.;The updated and official translation of As her first winter in Anatol turns to spring, Lady Maximilian finds herself confronting an unfamiliar feeling: hope. Her voice and her magic strengthen every day; the only parts of Calypse Castle left to refurbish are its gardens, which she plans to fill with blooming flowers; and the way her husband, the recalcitrant war hero Sir Riftan, looks at her from across their bedroom makes her feel, for the first time in her life, that she might be worthy of love and affection.; However, Maxi''s life is never that easy. Just as she begins to feel at home with Riftan, Maxi receives a surprise visit from Princess Agnes, the renowned sorceress who might have become Riftan''s wife if he''d decided to divorce Maxi after the Dragon Campaign. Not at all what Maxi expected, the princess stirs up complicated emotions and politics that could lead to monumental changes in Maxi and Riftan''s relationship.; This volume collects chapters 77-133 of the original webnovel by Suji Kim.

Autorentext
Suji Kim is the New York Times bestselling author of Under the Oak Tree. Her novel won the Romance Webnovel Award from South Korean ebook platform RIDI, and its webcomic adaptation has earned global acclaim. Suji Kim’s other published works include Twilight Poem and There Is a Mouse in My House.

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*NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after—but this is no fairytale. The updated and official translation of Under the Oak Tree*, the #1 webnovel on MANTA, continues in this second volume.

The gorgeous first edition hardcover of Under the Oak Tree: Volume 2 (The Novel) will feature designed sprayed page edges, full-color patterned endpapers, foil stamping on the cover, and a ribbon bookmark!**

As her first winter in Anatol turns to spring, Lady Maximilian finds herself confronting an unfamiliar feeling: hope. Her voice and her magic strengthen every day; the only parts of Calypse Castle left to refurbish are its gardens, which she plans to fill with blooming flowers; and the way her husband, the recalcitrant war hero Sir Riftan, looks at her from across their bedroom makes her feel, for the first time in her life, that she might be worthy of love and affection.

However, Maxi's life is never that easy. Just as she begins to feel at home with Riftan, Maxi receives a surprise visit from Princess Agnes, the renowned sorceress who might have become Riftan's wife if he'd decided to divorce Maxi after the Dragon Campaign. Not at all what Maxi expected, the princess stirs up complicated emotions and politics that could lead to monumental changes in Maxi and Riftan's relationship.

This volume collects chapters 77-133 of the original webnovel by Suji Kim.

Leseprobe
Chapter Twelve

The end of the cold snap marked the start of Aquarias. Maxi kept herself busy by practicing defensive magic and persisting in her efforts to fix her speech impediment. Progress was slow in the beginning. However, through repeated practice of remaining calm while speaking, Maxi could now read a line of poetry without stuttering. Of course, these were not the archaic poems her father used to make her read but simple verses of the bards.

Even so, when Maxi first managed to utter a full sentence without stumbling, it had brought tears to her eyes. Ruth had been right; staying calm and speaking slowly had shown steady results. Long sentences or words that were difficult to pronounce were still a struggle, but Maxi made a conscious effort to converse as much as possible, and it was paying off. Her stutter was improving day by day.

Recently, Ruth had started writing sentences for her to read aloud to loosen her tongue and improve her enunciation. The exercises would make her tongue feel stiff and sore afterward, as though she had eaten a mouthful of needles. Perhaps staying quiet for so long had made her muscles weak. Still, Maxi practiced every morning without fail. She would gladly have bitten a knife if it helped her speak her mind.

“I would like . . . there to be . . . a flower garden beneath . . . the second-floor balcony. . . . How long do you think . . . it would t-take?”

If there was one downside to her recent improvement, it was that she spoke terribly slowly while trying to articulate her words. Ruth had assured her that this would improve in time, but Maxi still fretted that those listening might find it frustrating.

Maxi lifted her gaze from the landscape plans she had been inspecting to study Aderon’s face. The merchant, being the shrewd man that he was, answered with utmost deference.

“It would be difficult to acquire such large quantities of seedlings right away, my lady. Might I suggest starting with shrubs? I believe my guild would be able to acquire azalea saplings. They look quite impressive when their red flowers are in full bloom.”

“But . . . I also wish to fill the flower beds.”

Rodrigo, who was in the middle of serving tea, spoke up. “If daffodils please you, my lady, I can procure bulbs without delay. I shall let the gardeners know.”

Maxi tried to picture it in her head. Grasses and shrubs planted in rich soil. Colorful flowers and ornaments transforming Castle Calypse’s bleak gardens. She was certain it would look magnificent.

At the same time, she could not help but worry about the expense. Not only would she need to hire more gardeners, but the trees and flowers themselves would cost a fortune. She should have had Ruth there to review the order before she signed it. Sighing, Maxi lowered the parchment onto the table.

“I think . . . I shall require more time . . . to think about it.”

“I understand, my lady,” said Aderon. “In the meantime, I shall try to procure as many seedlings as I can.”

“Thank . . . you.” Maxi smiled at Aderon and rose from her seat.

The market had reopened now that the weather grew warmer, and merchants once again came into Anatol for trade. The knights spoke of how mercenaries would be next, flocking to Anatol for work. The drakes that dwelled beyond the northern end of the Anatolium Mountains usually emerged around this time of year. Though monsters of the dragon race were extremely dangerous, their scales, magic stones, and bones commanded high prices as power sources for magical devices.

Just as the knights had predicted, when spring came, fortune-seeking mercenaries and merchants began arriving in Anatol, with even more expected once Aquarias was in full swing.

I would like to finish the garden before then. . . .

With spring came duties for the Lady of Calypse Castle. Maxi would have to hold banquets, invite traveling bards, and host theater troupes to perform. She could not allow people to gossip that the continent’s most renowned knight lived in a dreary castle run by an unsociable wife.

Maxi walked down the stairs, still mulling over the greenery to plant in the garden, when she heard a maidservant calling to her.

“Oh, there you are, my lady.”

When Maxi gave her an inquiring look, the aged maidservant politely added, “His lordship has requested your presence in the council room.”

“Has . . . something happened?”

“I’m afraid I do not know the details, my lady.”

It was rare for Riftan to be in the council room so early in the day, but it was rarer still for him to request Maxi’s presence. Perplexed, she quickly made her way back up the stairs. The council room was located directly across from the stairwell, one floor above the library. Maxi strode over the deep brown carpet and came to a stop in front of the large m…