Manhwa Review: Under the Oak Tree Vol. 3

#review #manhwa October 12, 2026

by Andrea Tran

What does it take to find your place when everyone thinks you are fragile? In Under the Oak Tree Volume 3 by Suji Kim, Maxi decides she will not stay the timid girl hiding behind her husband's protection. She wants to stand with the knights, learn magic from Ruth, and become someone who is useful. But her husband, Riftan, only wants to keep her safe, and their different desires create a distance they don't know how to bridge. This volume shows quiet growth, painful misunderstandings, and moments that make you cheer for Maxi all the way. Her journey to becoming her own person is still ongoing.

As the first snow falls over Anatol, Maxi begins to settle into her new life as the wife of Riftan Calypse. But even as she makes progress in her magical studies with Ruth, her fear that Riftan will discover she’s not a proper noblewoman continues to darken her thoughts. Worse, she seems to unwittingly spark his temper at every turn.

With reports of monsters migrating into Anatolium and the prospect of noble guests arriving come spring, Maxi must prove her arcane skill to herself—and to the Remdragon Knights—in order to prepare for the new season ahead.

Story So Far...

Lady Maximilian is forced to marry Riftan, a knight of humble origins, but their relationship gets off to a rough start, and he leaves for war the next day. Three years later, he comes back as a war hero and brings her to his castle. There, Maxi faces her fears and learns to speak up for herself. As they slowly get to know each other, Maxi worries about being rejected and losing Riftan to war again. To prove her worth, she helps the sorcerer Ruth build a magical device and discovers she is capable of far more than she thought.

And it's here in Volume 3 that makes me value character growth more than I normally would. It follows Maxi as she grows and tries to become more than just a wife waiting in a castle. You see her making an effort to connect with the knights, even though she’s small and shy compared to the big, strong warriors around her. It intimidates her, but a drink helps her relax, and it’s touching to witness the knights watching over her and noticing her enjoying herself. What stands out most to me is how she keeps trying to improve herself, even when it causes tension with her husband, Riftan.

Maxi isn't just trying to fit the role of a lady of the house. She wants to be useful and strong so she won't be left behind. After being left at the altar on her wedding day, that fear pushes her to learn magic from Ruth, the castle mage who believes in her. Their dynamic is one of the highlights of this volume, as Ruth is often blunt and dismissive on the surface, yet he genuinely recognizes her potential and pushes her to improve. Under his guidance, her magic starts to take real shape, and watching her grasp new spells and attempt healing for the first time is genuinely rewarding. Even though people doubt her abilities, she proves she's capable, and Ruth's quiet faith in her makes those moments hit even harder.

Riftan's fears

The relationship between Maxi and Riftan is complicated because they see things so differently. Maxi thinks she has to be helpful so she won’t be abandoned, while Riftan worries that if she becomes too strong and independent, he might lose her. He wants her to just be herself, but he doesn’t see that his protectiveness is actually holding her back. Even though they love each other, it’s both frustrating and believable to watch them struggle to understand each other.

These chapters also bring up Riftan’s past with Princess Agnes, which is tough for Maxi because she compares herself to a woman who fought alongside him in the war. This insecurity makes Maxi’s journey feel even more real. All of the characters are distinct in their own way, and I especially appreciate the slow development of Maxi's relationships with the knights and with Ruth in this installment. The volume ends with the arrival of Princess Agnes, which leaves you eager to see how Maxi will handle meeting the woman she has been comparing herself to.

In Conclusion

This volume does a great job showing Maxi's commitment to her beliefs and how she uses her knowledge to carve a place for herself. Seeing her gradually open up and work to find her place with the knights and in Riftan's life is sometimes frustrating but also rewarding. Their relationship feels real because they care for each other but often struggle to understand what the other person needs. After finishing this volume, I'm excited to find out what happens next, and I feel more invested in Maxi's journey than ever.

Under the Oak Tree: Volume 3 is now available to purchase in hardcover. The digital version is available on Manta. Under the Oak Tree: Volume 4 will release on April 13th, 2027.