"This is one of the 'cars' you mentioned, yes?" Lily asked softly as she studied the dark blue behemoth before her. While she could see a passing resembles to a carriage in its shape, and the strange black wheels, she couldn't help but marvel at the truly alien object before her- it even had more glass windows than most buildings outside the royal palace!

"Yeah, though this type are often called SUVs, which stands for 'sports utility vehicle'. Basically, they are built larger to carry more stuff, as well as being more rugged for going off road and such." Oliver answered with a nod. "We're taking mom's SUV because it had enough room for all of us- my truck doesn't have enough seats, and Poli's sedan would be cramped with all of us."

Seeing her eyes light up with eager curiosity, he decided to explain a bit more. "Trucks are kind of like open carts, meant for hauling things around, and sedans are basically for just transporting a small number of people. You'll probably end up seeing a few other thing sooner or later- motorcycles, which are small and meant for one or two people at most and only have two wheels, and larger trucks, which some people call tractor trailers or semis, which are the size of a house and can haul a ridiculous amount of stuff."

"And that's just the start of the new things you'll experience here."

Lily and Jal stared in fascination as he opened the door for them while briefly explaining how it worked, their awe and wonder only climbing as they sat in the soft leather seats.

"You have such comfortable seats, even in your cars?" Lily exclaimed softly.

Rosalita watched, surprised at their reactions, as they loaded up in her SUV- Oliver hadn't been kidding when he said they were from an area with little technology and even less interactions with outsiders. Clearing her throat gently, she decided to jump into the conversation once more- and ask the questions that she really wanted answers to. "Oliver is right that you'll be experiencing a lot of new things... Though, I have to ask... He said you were a princess? And you've never seen a car before?"

"But... How did you get back from the airport, then?"

Oliver cursed mentally, not having planned for a conversation like this- they had hoped to have at least a little more time to prepare, and, while they had cautioned Lily and Jal about reacting too strongly to new things, he knew it would be difficult to fully hide such things.

"They were pretty jet lagged from the trip." Poli chimed in with a shrug, barely able to mask her scrambling for an answer. "I don't think most of the ride even registered to them- I know I was pretty much out of it the entire time!"

"That makes sense." Rosalita chuckled. "I remember when your father and I flew out to visit family the first time; I was practically dead on my feet the second I stepped off the plane!"

Starting up the car, she smiled into the rear view mirror as she backed out of the driveway. "So, a princess? Sounds like there is a story there- one that my daughter and son-in-law conveniently left out." She pouted at the two people in question, much to their embarrassment. "So, how did that come about?"

Before either Oli or Poli could come up with an answer that felt acceptable, Lily spoke truthfully. "Oh, it is not quite as much of story as you would expect. My brother simply offered me in exchange for their assistance and Oliver accepted- though that was due to him misunderstanding the offer initially, as he believed he was being given some sort of treasure, rather than a bride."

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The vehicle shook as Rosalita jumped in shocked surprise- the poor girl was just given to them by her own family!? The very idea was just so foreign, and wrong, to her... She couldn't even comprehend it.

"Their culture... is very different, mom." Poli said slowly, trying to reassure her mother. "And both Oliver and I made sure to speak with her and explain that it was her choice whether she came with us or not- and we did that after we had helped them, that way she wouldn't feel obligated to do so."

"I am actually quite pleased with the outcome, mother." Lily added with a smile. "I could not ask for a better or more caring family, and I far prefer this to the possibility of a loveless political marriage..."

"Oh." Rosalita responded slowly, still trying to understand what she was just told. "Well, as long as you are happy with the outcome, I suppose..."

"But... if you're a princess, what does that mean for Poli, Oli, and Jal?"

Oliver froze, not having expected the question- not having even considered the question before! Sure, they weren't really married... according to them, and the customs of Earth... But, based off of Lily's customs, he was her husband- so, what did that mean for him?

"Well, that is... a bit complicated." Lily answered slowly. "While my father would be the one to ultimately decide what titles they receive, there is precedence for this. Oliver, as my husband, is a Prince, of course. And Jal, as our adopted daughter, is a princess..."

"But Poli..." Lily grimaced slightly, shaking her head. "I apologize, Polina, but there is no precedence for the senior wife being a commoner with the second wife being a princess- it simply has never happened before! I do not believe anyone has ever even considered it a possibility."

"But do not worry!" She smiled gently, taking Poli's hand in her own. "I am certain my father will make you a princess as well- and if he does not, I will see that it is corrected when next we speak to him."

Rosalita's face lit up at the explanation- her daughter and granddaughter were princesses! In her mind, they always were, but for it to suddenly be real? It didn't even matter that the titles only existed in some small, backwards place she had never heard of- her princess was an actual princess now!

The small, tittering laugh from the back seat caught her attention- and it quickly devolved into peels of laughter. Glancing back, she saw Poli doubled over and holding her sides as she erupted with laughter.

Seeing all eyes focused on her, Poli waved her hands defensively as she tried to contain her laughter. "Oliver... is a prince..." She ground out between giggles. "The man who always tries to be low-key... is a Prince! Prince Silk!"

"Oh, the guys are going to give you hell over this, Oli!"

"Yeah..." Oliver groaned, leaning back in his seat- he hadn't even considered that he would get some sort of title- sure, it only really applied on another world, but still... He could already imagine his friends mock bowing to him every time he entered the room, or something equally ridiculous...

"Maybe we shouldn't tell-"

"Oh, we definitely should!" Poli cut him off with a cackle. "This is going to be great! I can already imagine Ed kneeling as he swears fealty or something- probably just before Gary kicks him over so he lands on his face!"

Oliver shook his head with a sigh- he could already imagine such a scene playing out...

Hopefully Marty and Tyrone wouldn't make as big a deal out of it, though... somehow, he doubted he would be that lucky.

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