Chapter 1🔴
(🔴 RED ALERT) "The practice of a woman taking multiple husbands is called
polyandry. It is a tradition in the mountainous regions of Bhutan. This custom
has been practiced here for generations..."
Mila froze as these lines flashed before her eyes.
"A woman taking multiple husbands!!! How is that even possible???"
Unconsciously, her brows furrowed. The corners of her lips tightened as she felt
a surge of discomfort within herself-a question for which the more she sought an
answer, the more strange, abnormal, and even unsettling it seemed to her.
{Mila's full name is Mileris Ivanova. She is 19 years old and has a keen
interest in learning about the history and traditions of different countries.
Although she is of Russian descent, she and her mother, Elena Petrova, began
living in the Netherlands after the mysterious death of her father, Alexei
Ivanov. Currently, since her mother's second marriage, she has been living in
the house of her stepfather, Sebastian Van Dijk.
Sebastian Van Dijk has three sons. His first wife, Isabella Van Dijk, died
during the birth of their youngest son.
The eldest son, Adrian Van Dijk, is 34 years old and a police officer by
profession.
The middle son, Jayivan Van Dijk, is 30 years old and a university professor.
The youngest son, Ilian Van Dijk, is 27 years old. He is a professional bike
racer and also manages their family business.
The three brothers happily fulfill all of Mila's desires, big and small.
However, they don't do it thinking of her as a sister, but as their wife.}
The morning light was slowly filtering into that massive glass-walled house in
the Netherlands, as if the light itself needed permission to enter. There was a
perfect order to everything in the house-everything in its place, everything
according to a specific rule-but within this order, there lurked a kind of
invisible pressure, a silence that never fully broke.
Mila was sitting at one side of the reading table. The cup of coffee in front of
her had gone cold a long time ago, but she hadn't even noticed. Her eyes were
fixed on a few papers scattered across the table-printed information, some
notes...
Bhutan. A small mountainous country, but hidden within it are unknown cultures,
strange customs, and realities that seem like stories when viewed from the
outside.
Mila was always attracted to such things-things that aren't ordinary, things
that force people to ask questions.
But today... Something more than just questions was working in her mind.
Discomfort.
She slowly picked up a paper and read it again-
"A woman can also marry her husband's brothers-this custom was established to
prevent the division of family property..."
Mila's fingers paused on the paper. A strange sensation took birth in her mind-
As if this information wasn't just data... As if there was something hidden within
it that was pushing her toward an unknown unease.
"What have you become so serious about again?"
The voice suddenly drifting in from behind broke the silence that had been
accumulating in the room.
Mila slowly turned her head to look. Ilian was leaning against the doorframe,
twirling his bike keys in his hand, with that familiar smile on his lips-the
kind that makes it seem like he takes everything lightly, though no one can
truly understand what is going on inside him.
"I was reading about Bhutan," Mila said slowly, putting the paper back on the
table. "Since we are going, shouldn't I know a little?"
Ilian smiled faintly and then slowly walked toward the table.
"If you weren't here, we might have just taken some photos and come back, but
with you, the place becomes a story," he said in a soft voice.
Mila said nothing. But she felt- Even within these words, there was something...
Something she couldn't quite grasp.
Suddenly, Ilian asked, "By the way, are you going by bike? Or by car?"
Just then, another heavy presence was felt from the direction of the door.
Adrian. He stood there silently, but his gaze was fixed directly on Mila.
Without saying a word, his presence made the air in the room feel a bit heavier.
In his characteristic grave tone, he said, "She will obviously go by car. She's
packed 100kg of luggage for this Bhutan trip. She won't be able to carry all
that on a bike."
Mila looked at him and pleaded slightly, "Please, Adi... I want to go by bike."
Mila answered briefly, but she felt as though Adrian wasn't just reading her
answer, but trying to read her soul. This gaze... This silence... These things
occasionally threw her into a strange state of discomfort.
Just then, the sound of someone coming down the stairs was heard. Jayivan. There
was always a depth in his eyes, as if he understood a little more, saw a little
more than everyone else.
"Of course, Princess... you will go by bike."
"So who will take her things and who will bring the bikes from the airport?"
(Adrian asked).
"We are here, aren't we? The guards will bring the bikes. I will tell them..."
He walked down and glanced at the papers on Mila's table, then asked in a calm
voice, "What are these, Mila?"
Mila said, sounding a bit caught off guard, "Nothing, Jev..."
Jev didn't push it. He was about to turn and leave, just then-
"Did you know there is a strange custom in Bhutan?"
Mila's voice suddenly broke the silence.
Jayivan stopped. Ilian looked on with interest.
"What custom?"
Mila remained silent for a few seconds, as if deciding whether she should say it
or not. Then she said slowly-
"In some places... a woman marries multiple men... I mean, the practice of
polyandry."
The room suddenly became a bit more silent. Ilian raised an eyebrow, looking a
bit surprised-
"Seriously?"
Mila nodded, but clear discomfort was visible on her face-
"Yes... but I don't like the idea... I mean, it feels strange... so many people in one
relationship... how is that even possible?"
She instinctively shrunk back a little. Adrian said nothing. But a strange
change suddenly came over his eyes- A line of thought... An unknown calculation...
Just then, another voice was heard from behind-
"Humans are capable of many things, Mila... only the situation needs to change."
Mila didn't reply. Suddenly, Ilian grabbed her hand and started pulling her
along, saying, "We're heading out... you guys bring our things and follow us."
Leaving the two of them in the room, they set off toward the airport on their
bikes.
Something passed between Jayivan and Adrian through their eyes. A subtle trace
of a smile appeared on both their faces.
While riding the bike, Mila tried to focus fully- But that line kept spinning
inside her head- "A woman with multiple husbands..."
She paused for a moment. Then she whispered very softly-
"Strange..."
But she didn't know- Hidden within that word 'strange' was the most complex
equation of her own life.
------- To be continued ---------
#crimson_map #part1 (Introductory Episode) #written_by_saim_sultan
(❌ Copying Prohibited ❌)
(❌ 18+ post ❌. Despite the warning, those who read the story written for adults
should read at their own risk. The author is not responsible for this 🔴🔪)
#newstory #foryou #everyone #darkromantic
