So... Candelle was bedridden for a long time after the Celestial Dragons visited? She married the king right after? And now her daughter is with the Celestial Dragons?
...I don't think Shuri's really the king's daughter, but one of a Celestial Dragon like Bonnie. And the king knew and decided to protect Candela by marrying her.
But did Shuri kill him for keeping the secret? Was she controlled? Or did Shuri make some kind of deal with them to protect the people of her country, Brook included?
I think Candelle had LOVE SICKNESS but...was it even for Reuven? Is a greater conspiracy at play??
First of all, Her suddenly collapsing is very similar to love sickness. It doesn't seem like anyone knew exactly what was wrong with her either. She just randomly becomes very ill. Then reappears like nothing is wrong when she married Reuven.
The first inclination would be that even if she did have love sickness, it would be for King Reuven right!?
However, if she wasn't in love with Reuven.....
(long post and much speculation under the read more, but as always, I am to prove my hunches with logic and direct reference to the manga itself. I'm not just trying to throw random shit at the wall.)
1) She shouldn't be having attacks since she's already "following him". You do not necessarily need to be in a relationship with the person you love. You just need to be around them and let yourself be in love. Something explained by Gloriosa in Amazon Lily.
Candelle is basically his right hand woman. This should be enough to keep her healthy.
2) It's extremely suspicious that she falls ill immediately after the Celestial Dragons visit Esperia.
There's also the way Oda had her answer very vaguely when Brook asked who she liked. Why wouldn't she just say it's Reuven? That's easy exposition right there.
"He's out of my league"
Yeah, a King is of higher status than commander of the Royal Guard, even if she is a noble as well, but...
Then why was Reuven even allowed to marry her in the end?
In Dressrosa, the only reason Scarlett had to fake her death just to marry Kyros wasn't because of his social position, but his criminal past. If he wasn't a former prisoner he could've married Scarlett publicly.
So why would Candelle think Reuven is unattainable at any level? It's not like he had women falling all over him either.
Unless it wasn't Reuven she was in love with.
-Someone she feels is out of her reach
-Her bout of sickness happens AFTER they meet with the Celestial Dragons ship
-Who is someone unattainable that also is from Mariejois??
Was it Imu!? 😭
Hear me out! Put those tomatoes down!
Imu cannot leave his flower room for very long, but he CAN use vessels. It's very possible that during the visit to Esperia, he possesses a Holy Knight on board in order to communicate directly. Maybe even discreetly.
This would explain why she suddenly becomes ill after the WG ship arrives. Just like with Hancock, she becomes overwhelmed and flustered at the "sight" of her crush. More so, since she remained in Esperia instead of going with him.
Why though? What possible reason could Oda have for doing this!? Is there any indication that suggests she's a "villain"?
1) Why did Oda frame her very first appearance like THIS
with extremely suspicious wording?? Remember y'all, manga is a visual medium. There IS meaning in the way panels and characters are drawn. Her watching a literal play while hiding her face and commenting on people's performance is eyebrow raising.
2) Secondly, why in TF would Oda give her a GIANT sfx of DOOM if she was just gunna die next chapter??
That seems like a nonsensical choice if Candelle wasn't even going to be shown having significant battle feats right? Why all the aura? Especially since apparently the only other character to get this specific sfx was Mihawk. It's not common.
Keep in mind, it's never confirmed if Candelle is an Esperia native or not. We have no idea if she's been there her whole life OR if she's someone who randomly showed up one day.
Ok, so what? If she loves Imu, what's the play here? Why go through with a marriage to Reuven and have Shuri if she loves Imu so much? What was the reason?
1) The "Candelle is a Holy Knight" theories were true. Oda having fun with word play again!? More possible than you think lol.
"I am your trusted blade" is awfully similar to "devoted blade" isn't it? If Candelle wanted to convincingly gain Reuven's trust, but also keep respect for Imu, a slight change in the signature devoted phrase would work pretty well.
Also, the irony of Candelle calling herself "trusted" only to then backstab everyone in the end, is a very Oda thing to do imo.
2) Candelle trains hard for the sole purpose of being a Holy Knight because that's the only way she can stay close to Imu
Candelle has been said to be strong multiple times in just the few chapters she's been in. 1185 even confirms that she has the power of future sight, which is an advanced form of observation haki, which not everyone can simply achieve.
You know who else is supposed to be very strong? Which has very limited spots?
Holy Knights.
If Candelle cannot be with Imu romantically, then second best option would be for her to get into his inner circle. Become one of his "Devoted Blades".
3) She wants to help Imu control Esperia by producing an heir for him.
A twisted act of "Love"
Remember, Imu seems to NEED an heir in order to rule countries from the shadows. What did Brook say Shuri do?
She killed her father. Making HER the new heir and becoming a vessel for Imu to control.
At the end of 1185, Brook walks in on a Domi Reversi Shuri stabbing fellow Domi Reversi Reuven, so he shouldn't be dead yet, but something obviously happens later on that actually kills poor King Reuven. It doesn't seem like Shuri is getting free of Domi Reversi anytime soon either.
4) Shuri was the target all along. This was premeditated.
Let's go back a little. What happens at the same time Reuven assumes the throne and becomes KING of Esperia?
He marries Candelle.
Shuri is born very soon after.
Again, I noticed the way Oda frames the art with this dialogue. There is focus on Shuri's face and repeated lines about how excited people were for her birth.
Almost like her birth was especially significant for the world. The world being Imu???
5) The "Fog" was a coordinated attacked by Imu to weaken Esperia and create an excuse
Not only does Oda confirm the timeline of the Fog with Shuri's birthday (once again hinting to Shuri being the lynch pin)
I don't think this was actual Fog.
I believe this was chemical warfare similar to Caesar's own "toxic" creations.
Something purposefully set on Esperia so that the country would be weakened and sabotage their ability to pay the Holy Tax. Remember Imu works from the shadows. Politics is a messy mind game. They need to appear somewhat justified, especially if they have a strange interest in Shuri specifically. Maybe the land of Esperia itself.
So Candelle does this all for Imu? Isn't that a bit dramatic? Isn't that a bit random for Oda to throw in the middle of this arc?
Mmm Not really. Not if you pay attention to not just this flashback, but the arc as a whole!
1) Brook and Shuri's own unrequited romantic feelings are a hint by Oda and establishing a pattern? Candelle is the ultimate unrequited lover girl in this scenario?
Oda's emphasis on these two being romantically obsessed with an unattainable person isn't just for the LOLs.
The messy love connections are Oda's greater exercise in an almost Shakespearean style of story. Pretty much every major player involved in this flashback will be holding a flame for some other main player, but doomed to never be mutual.
Shuri loves Brook -> Brook loves Candelle -> Candelle pretends to love Reuven, but is actually in love with IMU -> Poor Reuven has no fucking idea he's kind of the ultimate cuck.
So would this mean Candelle didn't actually die? Is this a fake out death scenario!?
Mmm maybe. Maybe not. Candelle's character could still be a tragic one.
As we've already discussed earlier in this post, love sickness attacks the victim if they are not able to pursue or be close to their desired partner.
IF Candelle was in love with Imu, then spending a significant amount of time away from him would eventually weaken her and thus leave her susceptible to other kinds of sickness.
It's entirely possible then that she actually DID die from the toxic "fog", but only because she was already weak and therefore compromised.
"...an unimaginable tragedy"
So this dialogue could be Oda saying 1 of 2 things:
1) Candelle isn't actually dead. She's faked her death so that she can go back to Mariejois (and IMU) as her part in the grand scheme is over and we will get a surprise reveal of her in the future.
OR
2) Candelle is a poor, deluded woman who quite literally sacrificed her life in a sad attempt to please a man who only saw her as a pawn. In other posts i've written about IMU, i've discussed the parallels between him and Doflamingo. [x] [x]
Was Candelle IMU's Monet?
It's not lost on me that Punk Hazard, where we met Monet, is also the same arc we are introduced to Caesar and his chemical weapons.
Finally, is the Boa Hancock cover story not only a cheeky nod to Candelle's predicament, but a clue to love sickness being used in the plot and a possible narrative full circle to the Kuja being so heavily involved in Elbaph!?
Hancock is a "fool" in love with a man who will never look at her as a romantic option. Is Candelle a parallel? Did she dedicate her life to Imu in a strange attempt to get his attention? Is Shuri taking after her mother not just in strength, but personality?
Possibly. Maybe. At least, that's what i'm trying to argue.
1) Possible Kuja connection with Candelle?
Not only is love sickness first shown in Amazon Lily, but Big Mom pretty much implies this is a special condition that only happens to Kuja women. (The unofficial translations are more obvious with this).
IF this is true and IF i'm right about about Candelle having love sickness.....
Is Candelle a Kuja?
We know the Kuja used to sail more freely and weren't as isolated before. Could Candelle have somehow seen IMU in one of his forms, fallen in love, and then like every other Kuja, left Amazon Lily in order to chase after a man?
Or does this simply prove Love sickness isn't a Kuja specific disease?
Could any woman (or even man!) be left completely vulnerable to manipulation and a tragic end?
And if so, what would this mean for the future of the story? Why NOW would Oda show this?
As always, I do not have the answers to every possible plot hole, but that hasn't stopped me from being right before lmao. Sometimes Oda just hasn't given us all the puzzle pieces. I could be very wrong here and talking out my ass, but I try to follow my gut and it immediately pointed my mind into the direction of love sickness.
But I don't know, maybe I just want a reason for Candelle to still be alive LMAO.
I refuse to believe that Candelle would go from attacking the navy with no questions asked to stressing out about Celestial Dragons to the point that she made herself sick.
Leuven becoming king and Shuri being born right after the WG visit with no clarity on what happened with the Celestial Dragons after is also very sus.
Like, is this another Bonnie situation?
Could Candelle be an ex-slave who escaped the Holy Land? Maybe that's why she is so stressed. I'd even go so far as to say that she could have once been a Celestial Dragon herself.
Why do both Shuri and Leuven have horns and why are Shuri's smaller like is that significant?
Did Imu somehow play a role in Shuri's creation?Was she even conceived naturally or could her different coloured irises actually be more than just heterochromia like are they an indication that she isn't fully human? I don't think there are any other characters in One Piece with different coloured eyes and this comment from Brook is making me wonder if there's something more supernatural going on with her.
And who the fuck are these two:
I presume the big shadow bird is Mars, but who's the other guy? Sommers? Surely not...
UGH I JUST HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING PLEASE ODA DON'T END THE FLASHBACK YET!!!
I usually make these earlier but getting jumped a Trigun fixation (thanks Sol) got me distracted ╥﹏╥
Regardless, we lock in! Spoilers below, as always~
Oh Boa our queen how I've missed you~ She would absolutely learn to cook for Luffy, good for her
Ah, Brook was Candelle's apprentice! Cute!
"good manners & how to speak properly" Yeah I don't think anyone's gonna succeed in teaching him that 💀
Brook please you're killing me here..... Candelle gets it, she's the best.
BROOK PROTESTING THE UNIFORM BC HE IS A FASHIONISTA AND WE LOVE HIM FOR IT!!!!! +Him still wanting to wear a guard's uniform 🥹
CANDELLE TUCKING HIM IN NOBODY TOUCH ME 💔💔💔💔💔
Do not critique Candelle's style, Brook! She looks excellent and you know it!
Baby Brook I love you but please stop I'm being murdered by second hand embarrassment
SUN 🫵☀ Can you hear them yet, Brook? Can you hear the drums?
...... I'm sorry huh. A boat full of Celestial Dragons showed up, and all of the sudden Candelle's sick....? That mixed with her calling herself Devoted the other chapter............ I have a really bad feeling about all this 😬
Okay so shortly after the Celestials visit: Leuven got the throne (what happened to the previous ruler?), he married Candelle, and Shuri was born? 🤔 Those Manmayer Candelle theories are scaring me with how likely they're seeming.
BROOK WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE TO PROTECT HIS PRINCESS/DAUGHTER AND WE LOVE HIM FOR IT 💔💞💔💞💔💞💔💞💔💞💔
Shuri being easily won over by candy is so cute, immediately incooperating that into how I write Gunko <3
SHURI LOVES HER PARENTS SO MUCH AND THEY LOVE HER RIGHT BACK OMFG ODA WHAT ARE YOU ABOUT TO DO 💥💥💥💥💥
I'm obsessed with this little rebel song, it's so cute <3 I hope the anime does it justice once we get here! Noting that name, Kamigata, btw
Brook & Shuri have just the cutest dynamic omfg I'm sobbing 💔
I would kill gods to ensure them a happy ending omfg Oda when I catch you 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO ESPERIA??????? Poison, again?! Can Brook seriously not escape that stuff???
The music fading like that hurts me a bit, and Sun Path Lore just got very interesting about it (why would Atuni ever abandon an island so beloved to her?)
ODA AND HIS DEAD MOMS I SWEAR TO GOD I'M GOING TO COMMIT A MASSACRE WHY HER 💔💥💔💥💥💔💥💔💔💥💔💥💥💔💥💔💥💥💔💥💔
Eugh I forgot about those stupid Heavenly Tributes
Brook & Shuri sparing together! Does that mean Gunko knows Humming Swordstyle? 👀👀👀👀 Very interesting~
Leuven isn't coping well with anything atm and tbh I don't blame him.
Brook giving up on his pirate dream to stick by his benefactor's side 🥺 SHURI SAYING SHE WANTS TO GO WITH HIM 💔🥺🥺🥺 oh fix it aus save me fix it aus
[spits out cola] WHAT
Okay. Cool. Gunko has future sight. Good to know.
VALID, KING SHIT, WE LOVE TO SEE IT! 💥💥💥💥💥
Brook not even asking any questions, just going along with a smile on his face..... Certainly helps explain his attitude while with the StrawHats 🤭
FUCK THE WORLD GOVERNMENT, FUCK THE CELESTIAL DRAGONS, FUCK IT ALL!!!! WAR!!!!!!!!
The citizens being worried and terrified about provoking the Government is actually pretty fair, considering the shit they've done......
BROOK'S SONG REFERENCING WANO AND ELBAF AND SAYING THAT SOMEONE WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS FORCE IN THE WORLD 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥 I like the bee metaphor, I'm stealing it
THE REBELLION SONG PLAYING OVER BROOK COOKING HIS WAY THROUGH ENEMIES IS SO PEAK ❗❗❗❗❗❗❗
The gardens 💔 Ough augh..... When will Brook ever catch a goddamned break
I SAID GIVE THIS MAN A BREAK NOT BREAK HIM WHAT THE FUCK ODA
Who the hell are you?!?!?!! Am I supposed to recognize this guy, because he looks vaguely familiar but I fully cannot place it
MARCUS MARS WHEN I FUCKING CATCH YOU 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Imu. Imu you are no longer safe because of your pretty face. This means death.
At least Shuri absolutely slays with the wings/horns/tail/glowing eyes look 😞💔
Oda is a sadist but I know the team needs this break to make every chapter excellent 💔💔💔💔💔
Overall thoughts? This was a great chapter! It's nice seeing what went down on Esperia, but there's still more mystery to solve so I'm excited for next!!!!!
Hmm…. this seems pretty dark. So Candelle was “bedridden” for months after the Celestial Dragons visited their kingdom? (And after Brook says the CDs “threw their weight around” while they were there…)
Then it seems like Reuven and Candelle were rapidly married and had Shuri shortly after. Yikes. I’m thinking Reuven wasn’t actually Shuri’s father…
Shuri likely has observation Haki. Possibly more (her hererochromia is interesting…although it could be a visual indication of her split lineage, too)
It can’t be Ohara because this is years before Robin was even born… my guess is Yorki’s place of origin
So as someone else pointed out, this looks like Shiryu… but the timeline doesn’t match up. So either this is someone else (a predecessor to Shiryu, a relative perhaps?), or Shiryu was dealing with time travel (it’s happened before so we can’t rule it out)
edit: or also immortality if he is/was a Holy Knight. Forgot to mention that one. (But Shiryu is a Blackbeard pirate now….hmmmm)
edit2: I KNEW there was a Rocks pirate that looked like him!!! (I could not think of his name right off the bat, but Rocks’ crew was actually my initial thought) - so the guy could have a connection to Don Marlon (who also hails from the West, so…)
Is that creature Imu?? Actually, it sorta looks more like that bird form one of the Five Elders is able to take… (*double checks*) Marcus Mars’ ability to transform into Itsumade. The ringed eyes and beak look reminiscent of that moreso than Imu, plus the flames at the base.
Notice too that both Shuri and Reuven have bat-like wings. Were they both taken over? Made to fight to the death?
Could just be because her eyes are glowing from her body being taken over, but her heterochromia is gone…
The "Candelle was raped" theories don't make any sense to me. It doesn't fit the narrative at all imo.
First of all, the timeline doesn't match up.
We can clearly see Candelle isn't pregnant when she announces her marriage to Reuven. The premise of this theory hinges on Candelle being pregnant already and Reuven marrying her to preserve her honor or whatever.
She'd either:
1) Have to be pregnant already, but we've seen how Oda draws pregnant women.
This panel of Sora is just as small as the one above with Candelle and you can clearly see her stomach is bigger.
Candelle on the other hand still has an insanely small waist lol. Several months should be long enough to have her showing at least a little.
ALTERNATIVELY
2) Shuri would've already been born and hidden, despite the fact that this theory relies on the Kingdom knowing about the rape & worrying for Candelle while a child Brook is kept ignorant of the circumstances.
If the Kingdom knew Candelle was raped and with child there would be no need to keep Shuri hidden in order to fake a pregnancy with Reuven and save her honor or whatever.
3) Shuri was clearly still a baby when she was presented to the kingdom. Even a child Brook should be able to tell a newborn from a toddler lol
Babies grow quickly.
Secondly, Candelle's circumstances don't fit every other time we've seen a woman forcibly "claimed" by a Holy Knight or Celestial Dragon
If one of these men wanted Candelle they would've kidnapped her. Like they did Ginny, Shakky, and the random women we've seen in the story
Any woman that IS able to escape is almost always on the verge of death or immediately kills themselves afterwards
You're telling me Candelle was able to get back up & live a normal life after that?
When even Boa Hancock underwent a dramatic personality shift in order to cope with the trauma.
Brook wouldn't have noticed her MISSING!? The women he's obsessed with?
How would Candelle even get back? How would she be allowed to escape? No matter how strong a person is, very very few are able to escape from the WG. We had an entire arc just to get back Robin remember?
How could Brook NOT notice any of that type of excitement going on around him?
Finally, Reuven would've had to start war with the WG much, much earlier no?
Unless you're saying Reuven would've just accepted her disappearnce?
OR
Are we saying he'd have done NOTHING after discovering she was assaulted!? 😳
The same guy who almost caused a national incident over some Marines beating up a child Brook?? 🤨
THAT Reuven would've just bit his tongue and allowed the person and group that hurt his future WIFE get away with it with no consequences??
There's still a piece of the puzzle Oda is hiding from us.
I don't think so y'all.
There is definitely something that went on with Candelle during that visit from the WG, but I really do NOT think it was rape. She's not Ginny 2.0!
