It is looking better now...
In the middle of the situation yesterday, I thought I had inserted more empty frames into the brood nest than I thought. today, I removed the empty frame from each hive's brood nest, and added them at the end where the honey was. I imagine that at least one colony will still swarm, and since several of the queen cells were elongaded, I imagine soon.
But as of right now, both boxes are a good 8 frames of bees each.
I took no honey off the hive last year, but if these two colonies do well, with frames already drawn and ready for more brood, I surely hope I get some this year. All these months of labor (although I have enjoyed it) and not even a single, tiny jar of golden, heavenly elixer to show for it. Beekeeping teaches patience, if nothing else.