Chapter 88.3

Rishe stopped in front of a large tree with a scratch on its trunk.

Leo, who had been chasing her, stopped right behind her.

Rishe picked up a fallen branch and began to examine the area around the scarred tree, using it to cut through the weeds.

Then, she found exactly what she had suspected.

"I knew it."

A metal trap was set on the ground hidden by fallen leaves and weeds.

Two half-moon shaped metal plates overlapped each other, with jagged, pointed fangs on the inside.

If a prey fell on this trap, it would have bitten the prey's leg.

"How did you know there's a trap here?"

"There's a mark on the trunk of the tree. In such cases, only people can understand the markings so that they don't lose track of their traps."

She bent down to examine the trap's condition. The metal tusks were sharp, and the surface was glowing with iridescent colors.

She took out a handkerchief and wiped the surface, careful not to activate the trap. Then, first, she sniffed closer.

Iron. And this liquid smeared on the surface...

She got up and approached another tree trunk that was close by.

She needn't have to check to find out what trap there was.

She stretched her arm to the limit and pushed the ground with the branch in her hand, and the ground disappeared after a popping response.

"A pitfall trap..."

"Leo, stay back. It's dangerous."

While speaking, she fished out the rope she took out with the handkerchief earlier.

She threw one end of the rope straight up and hooked the end to a tree.

After a quick pull to make sure it was stable, she looked into the pit while holding the rope with one hand.

The pit is about a meter in diameter and also about a meter deep. There's abatis at the bottom.

A sharp metal stake peeked out from among the fallen leaves.

Using the rope as a support, Rishe reached down to the bottom of the pit and wiped the end of the stake with her handkerchief.

The same goes for this trap. It has a strong metallic odor, and a drug as pungent as metal.

She confidently blurted out with a sigh.

"It's coated with poison."

Then Leo frowned.

"Is that for killing prey? If the forest is off-limits, why would a hunter use a trap like these?"

"Because it's a forbidden forest, maybe someone is taking advantage of it and comes in and out to set traps."

"Then why are you diligently wiping the needlepoint with your handkerchief?"

"I'm interested in the poisons that hunters use around here. I have to take samples once I discover them. It'll be hard if I put them off for later."

She explained her purpose properly, but it made Leo look increasingly confused.

"What's wrong, Leo?"

When Rishe inclined her neck, Leo slowly answered.

"I've heard that some royalty and aristocrats set up proxies much like themselves in order to escape assassination."

"It's not very well known, but there are certainly countries who do that. What's wrong with it?"

"You're not cut out to be a proxy."

"Huh?"

Leo looked up at Rishe and then said seriously.

"I think you'd better find another job because with your crazy behavior, they'll soon realize you're a fake Crown Princess."

"..."

Leo's kind advice left Rishe at a loss for a response, and she fell into deep thought for a while.

T/N: Hahaha, Leo is cute. He thought Rishe is a stand-in...