Zara lifted her hand at the right angle, showing the cut.
"It's nothing," she said, though of course the words were chosen to make it sound like something. "I only got this while helping a little animal earlier. The poor thing was frightened and caught me by accident."
Ophelia's eyes widened.
The moment she saw the blood, all her caution wavered. The image in front of her was too perfect for her soft heart. A healer. Hurt. While helping an animal.
Her chest tightened at once.
"You're bleeding," Ophelia said.
"It's only a little," Zara replied weakly. "Please don't worry. I know everyone is already wary of me, so I don't want to trouble you too."
That sentence landed exactly where Zara wanted it to.
Because now Ophelia felt guilty too.
Her whole face softened. "No, I just… I didn't mean…"
Zara lowered her eyes and gave the smallest smile, as if she were the one comforting Ophelia. "It's alright."
That was enough.
