They were advancing towards the city of Terak
Ryan didn't know much about the kingdom he lived in because he hadn't studied its history or hadn't cared.
But after sleeping for three years and realizing the dangers that could befall him, he decided to do his best in all areas.
They were now moving along a dirt road, surrounded by farmland.
He was still on horseback in an awkward situation with Anna.
'Should I talk to her about this?'
Anna treated him like a child, but his hormones were saying otherwise; getting close to a beautiful woman like Anna, and even having her curves touch the back of his head, bothered him.
Ryan endured it and sighed.
Anna noticed his sigh and asked him,
"Why are you sighing? Is something bothering you?"
Ryan couldn't bring up the topic of her clinging to him, so he talked about something else to make her think he was annoyed by it.
"It's my first time going to a city other than my own, so I'm nervous."
Anna stroked his head and said cheerfully,
"Don't worry, I think you'll like Terak."
But that was a lie; he hadn't cared about the city at all. He felt uneasy, though when Anna patted his head.
'Should I ask her to stop?'
The Frosty Knights traveled non-stop for two hours, then they saw the big city in the distance.
On his way, Ryan learned from Anna that Terac was the largest trading city in the kingdom, as all the merchants came to it.
As they drew closer, the city's massive wall built of gray stone, began to come into view. The wall encircled the city on all sides; a high wall topped with watchtowers. Ryan spotted some soldiers standing there.
In front of its main gate stretches a wide road filled with caravans arriving from all directions; wagons laden with goods, and horses driven by merchants from different kingdoms. Dust rises into the air with the constant movement of people.
The great gate of Terak is made of thick wood reinforced with iron, and is surmounted by the emblem of the Kaelith Empire. Thousands of merchants and craftsmen enter through it daily.
The kingdom's emblem was a blazing blue flame in the center, surrounded by wings or two crossed blades, behind which was a royal silver shield, and above it an imperial crown.
As the frost soldiers approached the line of caravans, the merchants began to clear a path for them towards the city's main gate.
This time, Anna led the way; all the merchants and travelers were looking at the woman who was leading the horsemen, and whispers began.
A merchant whispered to his friend beside him as they walked by, but Ryan overheard:
"Isn't that Anna Froster?"
His friend's response upon hearing the name Anna:
"Anna Froster? You mean the Ice Princess of Frostgrad?"
Upon hearing this, Anna became upset and glared at them, her expression sharp and threatening. The two merchants were frightened and began to sweat profusely.
Ryan thought upon hearing their words:
'The Ice Princess of Frostgrad?'
Ryan turned and looked at Anna with his usual calm expression. Noticing his gaze, Anna spoke in an annoyed tone.
"What?"
Hearing her annoyed tone and seeing her frowning face, Ryan turned back to look ahead and said,
"Nothing."
When he saw that, Anna sighed, and when he saw her grip tighten on the reins, Ryan realized,
'She's angry.'
Anna hated being called Ice Princess. When people heard it, they thought she was cold, so she cursed under her breath.
'Damn it, what nonsense! Who calls me Ice Princess?'
Then she thought,
'Should I just kill them?'
Then she began to exhale and inhale slowly to calm herself.
'Relax, don't worry about them.'
Moments later they were standing in front of the city gate