Chapter 37: The Assistant’s Burden

“Ah, Wade, perfect timing. There’s a meeting at the Church’s council hall soon, and I’ll need you to go.”

Barely had Wade settled into his chair, his seat still cool from his recent return from the Church to the Knight Order headquarters, when the slightly ajar door to his office swung open. It was Grand Commander Jeffrey who pushed it open.

Just yesterday, to be precise, Jeffrey had witnessed a rather “spirited” scene in Wade’s office. Thus, today, he approached with caution. Even with the door slightly ajar, he gave a soft knock before entering, as if wary of interrupting Wade’s “good fortune” once more.

Theoretically, the Knight Order was considered a rather sacred place. It not only trained ordinary knights but also paladins who guarded the Church, implying that such “messy affairs” should be strictly absent.

However, there was a glaring contradiction. On one hand, the Order encouraged its knights to find partners, marry, and have children, ensuring their family lines were secure. On the other, the Church declared that romantic love was its most detestable sin. How, then, were young knights supposed to pursue romance?

Jeffrey, a man with his own family, simply chose to focus on the former. His priority was ensuring young knights had stable, happy families. As for the Church’s doctrines on abstinence? He hadn’t heard, didn’t know, and besides, he was a knight, not a paladin. They couldn’t dictate his actions.

“The Church, huh…”

Hearing those words, Wade, who had been seated for less than three minutes, lifted his teacup with a look of resignation.

His exasperation wasn’t merely due to having just returned from the Church only to be sent back for another meeting. Rather, it stemmed from the very nature of attending meetings at the Church.

More precisely, he detested the person he had to meet there.

“Alright, Commander,” Wade replied. “I understand. I’ll just have a drink of water, then I’ll head out.”

No matter how much he loathed the prospect, Wade had no choice but to go.

In truth, Grand Commander Jeffrey should have been the one attending the meeting. Jeffrey was the representative figure of the Knight Order; it was his duty to attend such gatherings.

But can you guess why Jeffrey originally hired an assistant? Given Jeffrey’s individual capabilities, his position as Grand Commander of the Royal Knight Order attested to his ability to handle every matter with competence. So why would such a man, already possessing a young and excellent Vice Commander, specifically hire another dedicated assistant?

The answer, of course, was simple: he needed someone to attend meetings *for* him!

By the time Wade walked back to the Church, his timing was impeccable.

The Church and the Knight Order headquarters were not far apart. Having often shuttled between the two for his grandfather and work, Wade knew the route intimately.

He much preferred walking directly, rather than enduring a carriage that could get “stuck in traffic” at any moment in this prime location. If no one noticed him, he could even traverse the rooftops, which was far more exhilarating.

“Mr. Wade, you’ve arrived.”

Before his feet had even come to a stop, a greeting reached his ears.

While at the Knight Order or at home, people addressed him with respectful honorifics. Yet, upon entering the Church’s council hall, a place stratified by noble rank, Wade, a commoner by birth, found himself relegated to the lowest tier.

When his grandfather had initially designed Wade’s social identity, he had considered arranging a noble title for him, starting with a minor one. After all, low-ranking noble titles were either bestowed or purchased, and few paid much attention to the specifics of who belonged to which family. However, Wade had refused.

At the time, he likely found the idea of a noble identity troublesome. It would entail mandatory attendance at certain noble functions and the arduous task of learning and adhering to their convoluted etiquette.

Wade, having grown up fighting in alleyways, despised those “fakes” who spouted endless platitudes about etiquette. He was not one to become the person he loathed simply for wealth and glory. Thus, he flatly refused, entering the Knight Order as an apprentice knight and later distinguishing himself with exceptional ability to become Jeffrey’s assistant.

As for how a child who fought his way out of the alleys became a civil official… that truly spoke volumes about Wade’s talent.

He had never attended school; all his knowledge had been personally imparted by the Old Pope Osias Parama, his “grandfather.” Beyond the academic knowledge found in textbooks, his grandfather had also taught him the art of dealing with people. He valued adaptability and flexibility far more than rigid facts, and at times, his thinking could even be described as unconventional.

This was precisely why the old man’s suggestion that Wade keep Lamia by his side as a wife, while surprising, was also somewhat unsurprising to Wade.

Wade excelled in all aspects; he was both scholarly and skilled in combat, possessing a mature and gentle disposition. In places devoid of noble hierarchy, he could thrive without issue.

But how could such a rigid class system be absent from the Imperial City?

Ordinary nobles were one thing; Wade, after all, was a high-ranking official, albeit an assistant, but still a close confidant to the Grand Commander. However, in the council hall, he was surrounded by illustrious noble families. Just gazing at their gleaming, expensive robes was enough to give Wade a headache.

“Greetings… greetings…”

Wade bowed to the elderly noble beside him, striving for perfect posture. These old men, though appearing benevolent, were in fact most particular about such formalities. One of them had even deliberately ascended a few extra steps, just to look down at Wade from a higher vantage point.

“The Knight Order’s Commander’s Assistant, Mr.? Hello there.”

“Ah, greetings.”

No sooner had Wade finished his bow than a young lady approached from the other side. She seemed to have forgotten Wade’s name; after a quick greeting, she turned and left before he could even respond.

Were there friendly nobles? Of course, there were some younger ones who might exchange a few words with him. But in the Church, a place that placed exceptional emphasis on etiquette and status, Wade, despite being a high official, held a relatively low position in their eyes.

Outside the Church’s domain, these same people would offer polite nods of acknowledgment. Yet, once inside the Church’s sacred grounds, a sneer escaped Wade’s lips as these old relics straightened their backs, puffed with self-importance.

The Church was the most “stubborn” institution in the entire capital. The new Pope here championed the nobility, possessed a strong sense of hierarchy, and enforced an abundance of rules. It was this new Pope who had declared that “romance and love affairs have a negative impact” on the Knight Order, causing a severe rift between him and Jeffrey. This was precisely why Jeffrey had appointed Wade as his assistant; routine tasks were minor, but Wade’s primary duty was to attend Church meetings in his stead.

Had Wade known he would be “taking the fall” as an assistant, he would have simply struck out on his own as a lone superhero. He had once imagined being a knight would be rather dashing, never anticipating such thankless work. It felt akin to a hopeful young university graduate, fresh out of school, finding their first job at a company that spoke in riddles, only to be relentlessly exploited. Every time he came to the Church, Wade felt a pang of self-pity, convinced that apart from himself, there were barely any normal people left in the world.

But… alas, there was no other way.

Having “taken the fall” so many times already, one more wouldn’t make a difference.

Today, he might as well make the most of it and catch up on sleep during the meeting.

With that thought, Wade hurried with quick, light steps towards the Church’s council hall.

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