Page 62 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

“I don’t accuse Natalie of anything that isn’t true. However, I don’t hold it against her. I just want to leave Yule with my memories,” she said to the council.

“Then what do you suggest we do? Natalie claims you have entered Yule under false pretences – that you are in fact not engaged to Mason Klaus. Such deception warrants action,” Una said, and dread spread through Lyla’s veins like lava.

“You can’t truly mean to wipe my memory? I’d never tell anyone about this place. You’ve all been so kind to me– except for knocking me unconscious and dragging me here against my will.” That addition earned her no favours; the council shook their heads. She didn’t want to deny the claims outright, but nor did she want to admit to them, for Mason’s sake.

“If you have nothing to hide, then why the facade? Why did you come here if it was all a lie?” Frederick asked.

Lyla looked at Natalie. “How did you find out?”

“I was bringing some breakfast to the workshop, and I overheard Mason and Mrs Klaus talking. Mason admitted they aren’t engaged, and she won’t be coming back to Yule once this season ends. As much as it pains me to hurt the Klaus family, I had to bring it to the attention of the council,” Natalie said with feigned sorrow.

“Yes, I can see how much it pains you,” Lyla muttered under her breath.

Natalie opened her mouth to answer, but Mrs Klaus held up her hand, silencing her.

“Yes. I did talk to my son, and yes, they are not engaged. However, harming Lyla is deplorable. If you had an issue, you should have come to me or Mason, and we could have discussed this privately.”

“Would you prefer your son’s deception of this council remain hidden?” Frederick asked in horror.

“Klauses don’t hide from anything. My son had his reasons, and Lyla has done nothing to warrant harm. I believe her to be a trustworthy person, regardless of how she came to be here,” Mrs Klaus said. Lyla wanted to thank her, but now was not the time. “I’m surprised at you, Natalie; I didn’t think you would eavesdrop on a private conversation.”

“Regardless of howNatalie found out, and your trust in the woman who has been living under your roof, how can we, Yule, trust a single word Lyla says? I say we vote. This isn’t about one lie, but about the safety of our people,” Frederick said, and there was a murmur of agreement.

Mrs Klaus rose from the table. “We are not going to do anything except let this woman return home!”

Frederick banged on the gavel. “You can’t make decisions for the council. It was your son who betrayed our trust after all!”

Mrs Klaus’s face fell in shame, and Lyla’s heart ached for the woman, who had already lost so much.

Silence fell over the room as Mason walked through the doors, his expression fixed and cold.This is the Mason I knew in the real world. Why doesn’t he let the council deal with me?

“Lyla had no intention of lying to the council,” he announced. “This farce was my idea. Selfishly, I wanted a friend to accompany me home. Given our laws, there was only one way to bring her here. I convinced her to lie. She knew nothing of where I was bringing her, or what she was getting herself into.”

Lyla watched as Natalie shrank under his imposing gaze.She wasn’t expecting Mason to defend me. How much did she hear of what happened?

“If you want me to uphold my decision, to stay in the village and inherit my father’s place, then Lyla must be allowed to leave,” Mason concluded.

The council appeared much more concerned with the prospect of him leaving than with her exposing their secret.

“You can’t hold this council hostage – this is not how it works,” Frederick protested, puffing out his chest.

“This council wanted my return and the line of Klauses to continue. Here I am. But if you hold her, or sentence her, the line will end with me. My family will never serve those who take an innocent woman’s memories, especially one I tricked into coming here.” Mason continued, his voice inflexible, and the council listened.

If Lyla hadn’t known better, she’d have thought they were back home in the boardroom, arguing about mandates and cutbacks. However, there was one major difference: this time he was fighting for her, not against her.

“Yes, he tricked me into coming here, but I could have left. The truth is, once I met his family, I didn’t want to.” She looked to Mason and swallowed the knot in her throat, surprised when he let her continue. “I haven’t had a proper family in a long time. I forgot what it was like to sit around a table for a meal or argue about bowties and cooking. You have such a community here; you all look after each other and care for one another. You’ve won me over with peppermint lattes and magic. I’d never betray Yule’s secret. Please let me keep my memories, because I’ll cherish them forever,” she said, trying not to let her emotions spill over.

Mason gave her a reassuring look, before redirecting an icy glare towards Natalie and the council.

An uncomfortable moment passed as the council digested her words. Lyla studied their expressions; some seemed to have softened towards her.

“Since you have Mrs Klaus’s understanding, then we will trust her judgement. I only hope you are telling the truth and that you will value all that we have shared with you,” Frederick said reluctantly. Lyla suspected he was trying to appease everyone.

The council around him muttered their agreement, and Lyla felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Mrs Klaus winked at her. Lyla stifled a tearful smile, knowing she had her support.

“Fine. She is of no consequence to us—” Frederick began.

Natalie tried to interrupt, her words a high-pitched plea, but a raised hand silenced her. She turned on Lyla, leaning over her.

---