LM0043 Bound by No One

Mizuki suddenly laughed at her own silly question. Well, she was Japanese too—or at least part of her, since her mother was Japanese. But her silver-gray eyes were completely different from her mother's light brown and her father's blue. She was a prime example of genetic unpredictability, and she really had no place questioning anyone else's appearance, regardless of their race.

Still, she had to admit that K was truly unique. She had never encountered anyone who affected her the way he did. No wonder he had fans all over the world—across different cultures, genders, and ages. He was captivating, and his voice was like a siren's call, luring in everyone who heard it.

Mizuki smiled to herself. She had no plans to attend Howl's concerts when they finally performed, but she promised to support the band in other ways—streaming their music, engaging in fan activities that didn't require facing him. That brief moment in her past life when their eyes met… it wasn't fear she had felt, but something unfathomable. Something she wasn't ready to confront.

Also…

She didn't want to be one of those obsessive fans who craved a piece of him. She wanted nothing from him—except his music, perhaps. The only reason she wanted to support him was because, in those final moments before her death, it had been his voice and image that comforted her before the darkness consumed her. It might have been a hallucination, but she was still grateful. At least she hadn't died alone.

As for that white wolf… err… dog…

Mizuki felt a pang of sadness, remembering the husky's mournful howls when she passed. It was as if the huge dog had cried out for her, and that truly touched her heart. But the problem was, she had no idea how to find that white dog with eyes like K's. She also wasn't even sure if the dog was alive yet, which meant she wouldn't know where to start looking if she went to Paris now.

And if she did find the husky? Would she adopt him? Probably. But she wouldn't start searching just yet. Based on how energetic he had been, he was likely in his prime—around two to six years old when he saved her. Huskies matured into adults at two, and those were their peak years in terms of energy and strength. To take on those thugs alone, the dog was probably still just a small puppy right now… or perhaps not even born yet.

She would come back for him in two or three years. She would definitely look for him. If necessary, she would pay any price to take him from his owners. She was that determined. After all, the dog had been a very good boy in her past life.

With that in mind, she pulled out her phone and booked a flight. Unlike many European countries, the Netherlands had direct flights to numerous destinations. She reserved a seat for herself, opting for business class instead of first. She didn't care about luxury; she just wanted a bit more legroom, as economy seats were often too cramped.

After finalizing her booking, Mizuki threw herself onto the bed once more, contemplating how to break the news to her parents. She had left them before to study in Paris, but this time, she was leaving indefinitely—to carve out her own path. She wasn't sure how they would take it.

No, she wasn't going to ask for permission—just inform them. She was already an adult, but they were still her parents, and growing up in a half-Asian household had made her more attached to her family than most people her age.

She could already imagine her mother's reaction. Kai Wolfe would definitely be unhappy. Between her parents, it was her mother who was more protective and clingy, likely because Mizuki was her only child. Her father, on the other hand, cared for her, but he was neither as vocal nor as demonstrative. And after uncovering the truth about their marriage in her past life, she suspected that his disappointment over not having a son had made him distant.

"I should probably start packing," she murmured, bouncing off the bed and heading to her walk-in closet. She didn't need much—she could always buy essentials when she arrived in Singapore. She grabbed three days' worth of clothes, a few accessories, and some sentimental keepsakes she couldn't bear to leave behind.

By the time she told her parents, her bags would already be packed. That way, if she upset her mother too much, she could leave immediately and stay in a hotel.

"Now, for the hard part," she muttered, staring at her door.

Thankfully, her parents hadn't followed her to her room earlier when she was still upset. She had no intention of attacking their marriage—she simply wanted them to understand that, unlike them, she would never allow herself to be trapped in a marriage of convenience.

In her past life, it had worked because she had been naïve, unaware of any other possibilities. But now that she knew better, she refused to be placed in that position again.

She also didn't want Pablo to suffer the same fate. Mizuki knew she was the only one who could put a stop to this arrangement. Because Pablo could never say no to his parents. If she gave her consent, he would marry her without question—regardless of his own feelings.

She would never let that happen again. Ever.

The clock on the far side of her room read seven in the evening—her family's usual dinnertime. Her flight was scheduled for the following morning, meaning she had only tonight to break the news. She hoped the conversation wouldn't turn as heated as earlier.

She didn't want a fight.

She just wanted to carve out her own path—to find her place in the world, free from obligations that imprisoned others. A place where she could discover true friends, protect those she cared about, and, most importantly, take control of her own destiny.