For years, fans of One Piece have known Brook to be a cheerfull musical who is part of the Straw Hat Crew. But what we did not know was the amount of pain he hid behind the jokes and songs. However, the recent chapters in this series have introduced us to Queen Candelle during a flashback of his time when the Esperia Kingdom existed.
Initially, it seems like she was a simple character because of a simple introduction, but it has become apparent that there is more to her than anyone would have initially anticipated. Fan theories also started to talk about Candelle as she definitely feels like an incredibly important figure in One Piece. Eiichiro Oda has given her a design that makes her stand out, and she is somehow also emotionally connected with Brook.

Naturally, fans were not about to let this go and started to dig deeper into her appearance. Currently, the biggest theory around Candelle is that she could be connected with the Celestial Dragons. While the creator himself has not given any canon explanation, some clues point towards this conclusion. Readers believe that she might have been part of the Manmayer family before leaving them to start a new life in the Esperia Kingdom.
This theory is surprisingly emotional as fans are imagining her to be a young person who would have arrived in Esperia after a tragic event. Instead of being an arrogant noble, which is expected from a Celestial Dragon, she might have changed her way after meeting Brook and the people of the island. Some readers are even complaining about her transformation into characters like Donquixote Homing, who was a noble but rejected the ways of World Government.

This One Piece theory explores the concept of inherited status versus chosen identity, which we know has been. If Candelle truly abandoned her Celestial Dragon roots, she would perfectly fit into that pattern. Readers have also noted how Brook is in love with her, so there might be some romantic undertones between these characters.
Their relationship has also been compared to The Rose of Versailles. Eiichio Oda himself has openly admitted to reading this story, and fans managed to find similarities between Candelle and Lady Oscar. Especially because of how Cadelle in One Piece is supposed to be dressed as a commander rather than a traditional queen outfit.
Just like Lady Oscar, this new character is also connected as a noble figure, and this parallel becomes more important as readers are connecting Brook with Andre Grandier. This character is known to be a tragic lifelong companion and is admired.
So knowing how Brook is in love with Candelle makes this connection seem plausible. Some fans even believe Brook’s calm loyalty toward Candelle mirrors André’s devotion in The Rose of Versailles. Instead of pursuing romance openly, Brook may have simply chosen to remain by her side as a soldier and protector.
The tragic Brook theory that has the One Piece fans emotional

The darker branch of this One Piece theory suggests Candelle eventually died during a World Government conflict involving the Esperia Kingdom. Some theories go even further, suggesting Brook may have failed to protect Candelle during the kingdom’s collapse. That possibility would completely recontextualize Brook’s normally carefree personality, making his humor feel like another coping mechanism hiding decades of guilt.
Final thoughts
While none of these theories are canon yet, we can just wait for the creator to reveal what he has planned for the character. Whether she is Brook's lost love, a Celestial Dragon, or maybe even a Magic Knight, one thing is for sure: Her addition to the story is important. All because her connection to Brook feels far too emotionally charged to be random.