Amnesia left Sora unaware of his ties to Éléonore. Tabasa and Churuka knew nothing of them either, so they hadn't mentioned it — but Sora knew she was Louise's sister. Louise's raw joy and tears had already won him over. So he followed the maid to Éléonore's room.
The maid opened the door; Sora stared, stunned. A long-blond woman slept in pajamas, limbs bound to the bed's four corners, mouth gagged with soft cloth. White-robed doctors and black-cloaked mages waited nearby.
The maid eyed him complexly.
"After your death news, the eldest miss attempted suicide five times in ten days: hunger strike, tongue-biting, hanging, wall-smash, sleeping pill overdose. Royal physicians and healing mages saved her with skill. Master ordered restraints — no more folly."
Sora gaped, wordless.
Confused: sister's lover inspires such desperation?
"Lord mage — release her deep sleep," maid pleaded, bowing.
Mage frowned: "Untie? Hard to re-induce. Wakes foolish — you stop her?"
"No worry — Lord Sora here. She'll mend seeing him."
Doctor, mage spotted Sora behind.
"Not dead? Splendid — Queen delighted."
Mage beamed.
"Fine — dispel [Hypnosis]."
To bed: wand waved, murmur.
Water-blue light pierced Éléonore.
"Done — wake her."
Mage stepped back, eyed Sora.
Huh? Sora glanced; maid, doctor stared too.
"Me?"
"Obviously — wake Miss Éléonore."
Maid frowned, irked.
"Right."
To bedside: Éléonore... what call? Tone?
Sleeping: blond parted, delicate beauty.
Stared moments.
"Éléonore? Éléonore — wake."
Awkward first; repeats smoothed.
"Éléonore, wake."
"Mm..."
Eyelashes fluttered; eyes opened slow.
Here...?
Scanned; locked Sora.
"You — Sora?" Surprise-disbelief.
Reached — bonds twisted body.
"Miss — untying now."
Maid loosed ropes.
"Sora? No dream?"
Sat, trembling hand to face.
Sora — bond-depth unknown — stood still, let touch.
"Real — warm, true."
"Sora!!" Leapt hugging tight.
"Missed so — bastard, you said..."
Ignored onlookers; poured heart-ache, joy.
Maid gawked.
"Doctor, mage — out."
"Ah, yes." "Mm."
Maid ushered healers; curious peeks.
Door soft-shut; "kind" eyes.
"No loose talk heard?"
Glances; shook heads.
"Good — rewards. May need again."
Two gold cards handed.
Accepted; amounts grinned.
"Call anytime." "Vallière service glad."
Maid led downstairs, gone.
Éléonore's room: Sora dazed-stand.
Post-pour, calm: head-lift, puzzled.
"Why silent, Sora?"
"Ah... glad safe."
"Perfunctory. Fine — alive. Louise seen?"
"Uh, yes."
"Her first? Hmph."
Twisted waist-soft; zestful.
Sora winced helpless.
Louise-visit eased her — unaware Cattleya ties. Assumed post-Louise: sister-time.
Eyed: "Taller, stronger."
Seductive smile; spring-eyes; chest-circles tease.
"Us... long no?"
Eh?! Ahh!!!
Sora stiffened; Éléonore shed outer leather.
Hugged to bed; hands roamed, lips chased — fervent.
Sora dodged kisses, once twice.
"What's wrong? Don't want?" Enthusiasm chilled; propped, dissatisfied stare.
Sora averted, embarrassed.
"Well... Louise's sister — I'm her fiancé. This... wrong."
"Huh?" Shock.
"Still say that? You entered my room first. Near Kelmania emperor marriage — you stole me, claimed your woman. No giving others."
Face shifted; shook shoulders excited.
"You... tired me? Abandon? Gave all for you — identity gone. Dare not want — I-I... can't abandon!! Twenty-seven now — don't want, I..."
Sora reeled; grasped depth clearer.
"Didn't say abandon."
"Then what?" Shake-stopped; straight stare.
Sora honest: "Amnesia — forgot you. Louise, Churuka, Tabasa too. Won't leave."
"Amnesia?! Doctor — treat!" Concern flooded.
"Yeah — back to recover."
Relief; sudden blush.
Then... shameless — pouncing first-met like that?
"Aaahhh!!!"
Screamed; shoved Sora bed-off; flushed, evicted — clothes flung.
Sora dazed, nude; her-sheds feet-tangled.
Nearby maids stunned: Éléonore-kickout; blushed hand-covers, finger-peeked. "Big everywhere boys." "Louise can't take muscles." "Young master's good capital."...
"Ignore — no work?"
Head maid quelled; dispersed.
"Lord Sora — clothes first."
"Ah!!" Sora yelped; back-turned, hasty-dress.
Head maid sighed: youth.
Sora left Éléonore's; downstairs-bound.
"Lord Sora — second miss awaits." Weak maid blocked.
Ha? Another? Sora sensed complication.