In episode eight, Irisu texted to Hongou, chatted with a Senpai (Oreki's sister? Last we heard she was in India? Or Ukraine?), then chatted with Chitanda "L".
This episode as you sa, she talked with Hongou, then Oreki's sister.
While I do feel sorry for Oreki this time (it'll make it quite hard for him to believe he can really make a difference again), I sympathise with the Empress more after the final scene. Like a true empress, she has to keep her little empire from failing - and if it requires her to step on people, so be it. People expect her to do her job, but she gets bad press for it.