Clatter.
The sound of something hitting the ground drew the attention of all three of them.
Amamiya Natsuki looked down and saw a red leather whip lying by the Young Lady's feet. His expression turned subtle.
It was called a whip, but it was very short and looked a little like a feather duster. The color, however, was unmistakably inappropriate...
Amamiya Natsuki was certain this was some kind of pleasure toy. There could be no mistake.
The reason was simple.
He'd used the exact same kind of item while playing Tetris with Marin and Sayu, so he recognized it at a glance.
"H-how could this..."
Shinomiya Kaguya's eyes widened as she stared at the whip on the floor.
She was very familiar with it. It was one of the props that had appeared in the Female University Student's steamy fantasies.
But why had it suddenly appeared right in front of her?
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her lip, and a possibility suddenly occurred to her.
"Was that buff, 'Sudden Inspiration,' responsible?"
"In certain situations that trigger 'Sudden Inspiration,' you receive unexpected gifts of memory... This kind of thing counts as a gift?"
"And those fantasies are all other people's daydreams, not my memories!"
"..."
The maid asked hesitantly,
"Your Highness the Princess, why do you have a leather whip?"
Amamiya Natsuki quickly crouched down and picked up the whip first. Then, as if nothing were amiss, he said,
"The palace is in such chaos right now. It's not unreasonable to keep a leather whip on hand for self-defense, is it?"
The maid's lips twitched slightly.
"...It's not unreasonable."
Amamiya Natsuki handed the whip to the Young Lady and said solemnly,
"Young Lady, please take good care of your weapon."
Shinomiya Kaguya: "..."
Shinomiya Kaguya reached out and took the whip. Her face