After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World novel Chapter 152

[17 days of Protection Period]

It just so happened that she received a twin-stroller as a gift earlier that morning, perfect to use on a morning walk to the neighbors’ this afternoon.

She walked towards the wooden contraption and couldn’t help but smile, remembering the touching event from earlier.

The morning was tranquil and the sun felt nice and she had just returned from her morning walk with the children—both lying happily in their simple stroller—when a familiar neighbor happily blocked their way.

"Baron?"

"Yes, Ms. Althea, it is I!" he said, putting his chest out proudly though it just made his stomach bigger.

"This is Bianca by the way, our top artisan." He said with that amicable face of his, pointing at the gallant-looking woman beside him. But the woman looked shy and had to be pulled closer by Baron.

Seeing his usually-gregarious cousin was not talking, Baron decided to be her spokesperson. "To congratulate you on your birth, she carved up a bespoke twin stroller—among other things—for your children~!"

Althea was surprised and looked at the woman again—who was trying not to blush—and then shifted her gaze to the covered push cart sort of item she had in front her.

"These look wonderful! Thank you. Please come in." She said and, after a bit of push and pull, the group entered the house with smiles. Althea prepared tea for them as they unpacked the gifts and even Althea was surprised at its quality.

Of course, first was the stroller. It was light, smooth, and delicately carved. Baron’s cousin, who had already hired dozens of woodworkers, seemed to have carved it herself.

It was made of rich, polished wood, and it exuded the aura of both elegance and comfort.

There were even cute carvings alluding to the children’s nicknames—Little Pepper’s had a condiment shaker with a smiley face and Little Meatball’s had, well, meatballs rolling happily.

Very cute.

The cloth of cushion was made of repurposed cotton, which was likely from their own stocks, as the cotton factory had yet to produce anything. However, it was sewed with precision and care.

Inside were other toys and accessories used by babies. There were four wooden teething toys with different shapes of Terran animals. Carved in each were their nicknames, and they got two of each.

Very thoughtfully, Bianca gave a dove and a puppy to Little Pepper, and a lion and a dragon to little Meatball.

Very, very, cute.

There were also four wooden baby rattles, carved to look like seasoning bottles (for Little Pepper) and little meatballs on a stick (for little Meatball)

Adorable.

And finally, there were wooden stacking toys that the children would be able to use in a couple of months, no less intricately carved than the others.

"This is amazing…" she mumbled. This cousin of Baron was really a talent.

The talent meant she had a lot of work, but chose to make such a detailed tool for her children.

One could see in the work whether or not the artist placed their heart and soul into it. Althea was quite touched; Bianca must really like children.

She vaguely had an idea why the woman was being a bit awkward around her. After all, when one truly cared for an opinion, one tended to be more nervous than usual.

Althea’s emerald eyes landed on the woman, who was trying not to ogle at the children.

"Would you like to hold them?" Althea offered with a smile, pushing the old stroller near her. Bianca brightened visibly, but dared not be rash.

"Can I?"

"Of course."