[ He doesn't have long to wait for her response. As soon as there's a gasp Claude has to put more effort into restraining a smile than he would around anyone else where it wouldn't be so easy to show his thoughts if he was around anyone but Hilda. Her outrage is just as familiar - and he's well aware of the only reason he's spared a smack to go along with it - but by the end, he's shaking his head slowly as if they're addressing some deeply heavy topic.

This time when he stops, it's with great seriousness that Claude shifts the almost finished braid to one hand in order to let his now free one on Hilda's shoulder gravely as if he's bracing her for something for which she'll need support. ]

I regret to inform you, Hilda, that the drooling is all yours and I can no longer take the fall for it. [ There's a slightly too formal note to his tone, as if he's pulled out his duke voice just for this and like it's some kind of ruling edict rather than mirth tugging at all the corners of his face. ] It's been a good few years of blame, but now it's time for you to take it. I have plenty of pillowcases over the years to prove it, you know.

[ Something about the thought of somehow also summoning his supposed evidence is enough for Claude to grin cheekily at her in the mirror as he pulls his hand away and completes the braid, tying it off with the ribbons she'd pulled out of her hair earlier and then spending a second to tidy up his handiwork before putting both hands on the back of her chair so she can investigate it herself. ]

But on the bright side, you're the most stylish combination snorer-drooler in Aquila by a long shot.