The Silent Luna's Trial (Maple and Finn) novel Chapter 78

**When the Last Candle Sang to the Ocean Wind by Aurelion Kyre Solvane 78**

In that moment, time itself seemed to come to a standstill. The world around me faded into a blur, leaving only the ceaseless stream of comments scrolling across the screen, each one a sharp jab in my gut.

“Monsters! Her parents are the ones who should be on trial!” one comment blared, filled with righteous indignation.

“Is that how you treat your own daughter? You wouldn’t even treat an enemy like that!” another voice echoed, full of disbelief and anger.

Then, the judge’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, commanding attention with an authority that made the air crackle. “The jury, please now present your verdict. You can choose to acquit her of all charges with one vote, or you may choose to rule guilty.”

The weight of those words hung heavily in the air. “The jury, please now present your verdict on this specific accusation. If any of the other charges still hold, the accused will be found guilty.”

Guilty. The word echoed in my mind like a death knell.

I could feel my heart racing as I waited for the jury’s decision. Thirty-three votes. They acquitted me outright. A wave of relief washed over me, but it was quickly overshadowed by the murmurs of doubt that began to rise.

“Sure, her upbringing was tragic, but that just means she might come back with even worse revenge later,” one commenter sneered.

“Exactly. Can someone really stay that soft and innocent forever? No way she hasn’t done something,” another chimed in, their skepticism palpable.

Then came the second accusation from my parents, a dagger aimed straight at my heart. “She took two hundred thousand and disappeared without a word, leaving her parents buried in debt.”

The comment section erupted once more, a wildfire of outrage and judgement.

“Knew it! She did do something worse!”

“Two hundred thousand? If it weren’t her family, she’d be in jail!”

The tide of public opinion was shifting, and I could feel it swirling around me like a storm. My father straightened his back, a proud smirk on his face, as if he were basking in the glory of the chaos they had created.

I stole a glance at Isabelle. Despite her calm facade, her trembling fingertips revealed the turmoil raging beneath. She should be terrified, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was as scared as I was.

The screen flickered back to life, revealing the stark numbers: 97.01%.

“Uncle’s in trouble—come back quick!” The urgency in Isabelle’s voice had sent my heart racing.

Without a second thought, I rushed to request time off from work, purchasing the earliest train ticket I could find, my mind racing with worry as I made my way home.

But when I finally arrived, the scene that greeted me was nothing like I had anticipated. My father was sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to the television, while my mother sipped her tea with an air of tranquility. And there was Isabelle, dressed in a lovely outfit, smiling sweetly as she nestled against Mom, her demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos I had imagined.

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