I Healed my Husband, the Leader of the Underworld

“Selling a proposal for a sewer system to high-ranking nobles, huh? Not bad. It’s a great time to sell that kind of idea these days.”

 

Kendrick Foster, a talented civil engineer, was indeed quite fortunate. He understood that magic alone wouldn’t sustain the empire’s vibrant blue river indefinitely.

 

When news of a waterborne epidemic from the neighboring kingdom reached him, he saw it as an opportunity to present his ingenious idea to the high-ranking individuals.

 

As he entered the imperial palace for the first time, filled with dreams and hope like any youngster, he held the file containing his national project proposal tightly, knowing full well it would cost a tremendous amount of money.

 

Baron Foster frowned as he looked at his nephew.

 

The boy had grown up to strongly resemble his late younger brother. Lacking any ambition for power or titles, his eyes were nonetheless alight with enthusiasm. He appeared as a strikingly handsome and principled young man, as if he had been drawn from a masterpiece.

 

“Is this your first time visiting the imperial palace?”

 

Kendrick, who had been glancing around the luxurious corridor, jumped in surprise, adjusted his glasses before looking at his uncle.

 

“Y-Yes.”

 

At Kendrick’s slightly awkward answer, Baron Foster sighed, and turned his attention back to the path ahead. It had been a while since he’d last seen his nephew, and he now noticed the dirt beneath his fingernails—there was no need to ask further.

 

“And have you met heir Majesties?….”

 

The brief pause in his speech made Kendrick look at Baron Foster with a puzzled expression. The baron, as if choosing his words carefully, fixed his eyes on the expanse of red carpet before them and continued:

 

“…what about Lord Roam?”

 

“N…No, never. I’m afraid I might make a mistake if I—”

 

“It’s simple.”

 

Knowing that aside from the guards standing like ornaments in the vast hallway, there was no one else around, Baron Foster continued:

 

“Only one person’s opinion matters in here.”

 

“You mean His Majesty the Emperor…”

 

“You said this was your first time in the imperial palace, right?”

 

Kendrick looked at his uncle with a puzzled expression, wondering why he was asking the same question again.

 

Faint strands of gray, like white streaks, appeared amidst his nearly black eyebrows, which almost seemed to cover his eyes. His face was unreadable.

 

“Take a good look around, because you won’t be seeing it again.”

 

“…Uncle.”

 

“You are not a businessman.”

 

At those words, Kendrick gazed at his uncle with an uneasy expression. He wasn’t a young man particularly skilled at maneuvering through politics, but he wasn’t ignorant of what his uncle’s words meant. And this was the imperial palace.

 

Yet, despite saying something that could be considered treason, his uncle’s experienced face showed not the slightest hint of disturbance. Why? Kendrick wondered.

 

But soon, Kendrick found the answer.

 

Ah.

 

It was the moment a rookie, who had never set foot in high society, stepped into the Privy Council, a consultative body akin to a parliament convened by the Emperor. Though he was unfamiliar with the intricacies of human relationships, he could at least sense where the balance of power in the room was tipping.

 

Kendrick reflected on his task until the attendant, carrying a presentation scroll as large as his torso, entered and arranged the materials neatly beside him for easy viewing.

 

One person.

 

He had been told that if he could sell it to just one person, it would be a success. Was that one person the Empress?

 

After hearing something from the attendant, the Empress’s dark eyebrows furrowed. With a slightly trembling hand, she drank her tea before setting the cup down without a sound.

 

A sharp gaze pierced toward Kendrick. Then toward his uncle.

 

Indeed. That conversation in the hallway had indeed been too bold…; Kendrick thought.

 

Yet his uncle’s expression showed no surprise at all.

 

He just calmly stood there.

 

…As if he were waiting for someone to arrive.

 

At that moment, the door behind him swung open, and as soon as the attendant announced the arrival of “Duke Roam,” he felt the air suddenly grow heavy.

 

A stifling pressure threatened to suffocate him. In that instant, the power dynamics he had naively assumed to grasp shifted with alarming rapidity.

 

“You’re late, Duke.”

 

The Empress’s voice was sharp, yet as she spoke, she curled her lips into a smile directed at Duke Roam.

 

The man strode leisurely, with an air of arrogance, and settled into the chair his aide had pulled out for him.

 

“My wife wouldn’t let me leave, so I’m late.”

 

He offered no apology, but somehow it felt natural.

 

The Emperor, seated beside the Empress, let out a hearty laugh as if trying to lighten the mood.

 

“What a remarkable woman. Newlyweds are always like this,” the Emperor remarked, making an effort to appear friendly, striving to be cordial with Duke Roam despite the prevailing tension.

 

The Empress, however, was the only one who didn’t smile. Though the corners of her lips were slightly raised, for some reason, her eyes remained cold. Her gaze swept over an empty seat that had yet to be filled.

 

Just as she was about to speak, the Emperor signaled to Kendrick.

 

“Let’s get started.”

 

“Your Majesty,” came the Empress’s voice, drawing everyone’s gaze to her expressionless face.

 

“But there’s still one empty seat,” She spoke with a graceful smile. “Shouldn’t we show the same courtesy to others as we have to Duke Roam.”

 

The council members exchanged sidelong glances, gauging one another’s responses.

 

But Siegfried Roam merely gave low chuckle in reply.

 

 Sensing the tension, the Emperor looked between the Empress and the Duke, trying to ease the situation.

 

“You’re saying a lot of unnecessary things today. Try to understand.”

 

“Your Majesty,” the Empress repeated, showing no sign of backing down. “Marquis Rochester has yet to arrive.”

 

“My father-in-law is still recovering from his travels.”

 

Siegfried’s gaze turned toward the Empress, his frigid eyes deepening in shade.

 

“I told him to rest.”

 

The Empress, unable to counter his words, maintained her earlier smile, her trembling hand gently stroking her white shawl.

 

Displeased, Marquis Fox, from the Empress’s maternal family, stepped forward.

 

 

“What right do you have…?”

 

“”Isn’t His Grace capable of handling the duties for both of them?” Millard Marshall, an old fox, skillfully countered.

 

Wasn’t it said that Roam was ‘boiling over’? Roam was a battleground for those eager to gain favor with its leader. It was fiercely competitive, like molten lava bubbling up from below, each vying to reach the top first.

 

Everyone clearly saw how Marshall was practically fawning over Roam, like a loyal bulldog drooling for its master’s attention. Meanwhile, the Empress, just like before, lifted her teacup and drank her tea.

 

“Let’s begin,” the Emperor said, and Kendrick began his presentation about the sewer system he had designed. It was quite a sight to see the distinguished nobles nodding in agreement with his ideas.

 

But their expressions changed as soon as the topic of the budget came up. Surprisingly, Siegfried showed no interest, and Kendrick’s eyes turned to the Empress. No longer maintaining her frigid demeanor, the Empress was now tenderly stroking the Emperor’s chin and speaking sweetly to win his favor.

 

So, that’s where the real power lies; Kendrick initial thoughts solidified.

 

When the Empress set aside her regal poise to flash a charming smile at the Emperor, she resembled a goddess of beauty, a fairy attempting to beguile the powerful supreme entity.

 

The Emperor nodded along with her words, suggesting that rights to this considerable project might soon be granted to her.

 

Once she got what she wanted, the Empress looked at Siegfried with narrowed eyes, lifting her chin.

 

Yet, despite her arrogance, Siegfried didn’t spare her a glance. He merely stepped back, maintaining the same indifference and detached attitude he had earlier.

 

The man actually seemed lost in his thoughts as he rested his chin on his hand.

 

Feeling that a decision had been reached, Kendrick spoke up.

 

“If you will entrust it to me, I will become Her Majesty the Empress’s loyal servant…”

 

Just then, someone quickly walked over to Siegfried Roam and whispered something in his ear. The man chuckled softly in response, and the room fell silent in an instant.

 

“Let them have a good time,” he said.

 

So, this is what true power looks like; Kendrick thought to himself.

 

Siegfried Roam’s voice was filled with overwhelming authority, a hint of amusement, and a sense of endearment that he found quite intriguing.

 

“Make sure they can move around safely.”

 

“Yes, my Lord.”

 

As Ziegfried gestured, Harrison walked over to Millard Marshall and whispered something in his ear. The old man stood up, and after showing the utmost respect to Roam with a bow, left the room.

 

 

“You sure knows how to pull off adorable antics,” Siegfried murmured to himself.

 

His faint smile, as if recalling someone, shattered the confident expression on the empress’s face.

 

Of course, still completely immersed in their own thoughts, the person in question seemed oblivious to the situation.

 

“Duke Roam,” the Empress finally spoke up. “It’s inappropriate to discuss personal matters while deliberating on national policy…”

 

“The improvement of the sewage and water supply systems with new technology seems like a reasonable topic that warrants my time,” Siegfried said as he stood up.

 

The man appeared ready to leave, signaling an impending conclusion to the meeting.

 

Well, despite the awkward situation, investment was still necessary. But just as Kendrick was about to resume what he wanted to say…

 

“I will invest double the amount,” Siegfried’s firm voice rang out.

 

Double…

 

Double?

 

Kendrick’s mind was in turmoil.

 

The numbers he presented during his pitch had been a significant compromise to secure investment. But if he were to receive double the amount… a flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Siegfried’s voice settled ominously in the chilling silence, as if implying there was no need for further discussion. Then, his gaze shifted toward the Empress.

 

“I trust that the ‘consultation’ her Majesty speaks of does not require me to lend my intellect, of course.”

 

The Empress was shaking with anger, visibly so.

 

“With the increased investment, I will personally oversee the operations in Roam.”

 

The emperor glanced at the queen and then looked at Duke Roam. Thinking this was a good deal, a satisfied smile crept onto his lips.

 

“Furthermore” Siegfried continued, “I will assume all rights and authority that the Fox family held within the Empire regarding the water supply and sewage business.”

 

Since the Fox family is the queen’s maternal side, everyone’s gaze turned to Marquis Fox.

 

“Duke!” the Empress’s voice trembled noticeably.

 

However, Siegfried did not wait for her to finish her sentence.

 

“…I rather enjoy having monopoly over everything in Roam.”

 

There was an unmistakable sneer on his lips…..

 

While the Empress’s expression was one of utter humiliation.