I think there is a bit of a good chance that the Queen of Esperia, Candel was most likely a Holy Knight that infiltrated the Kingdom of Esperia, and is also part of the Manmayer Family.
We already know that Brook has some history with the God's Knights, seeing how when he first saw Gunko, he already knew what rank she was.
The Candel situation was probably similar to what Garling did at God Valley and to the mother of his children.
We know that the Kingdom of Esperia fell, meaning it was most likely never affiliated with the World Government, at some point, Candel infiltrated the Kingdom and then joined the Royal Guard Corps became the Commander, and then eventually married the King and had a child with him.
Garling never loved the mother of his children, only used her to have kids to use as future members of the God's Knights, Candel was most likely the same thing, she never loved the King, and only used him to have a child, so that way her child can become a future member of the God's Knights.
Once Candel plan was set in motion, she then decided to launch an attack the Esperia Kingdom, where it probably became a hunting ground for the Celestial Dragons just like what happened at God Valley, either that or she simply ordered the Kingdom to be destroyed.
And remember that Brook calls Gunko, Father Killing Princess, he never says Father and Mother killing Princess, or even Parent Killing Princess.
If Gunko did kill her father, either Candel forced her daughter to kill him, or Candel got controlled by Imu, then used Domi Reversi on the King, and Gunko in an act of mercy ended up killing her father.
I don't know if I can believe the latter though.
Also unless there was something super special about Gunko, it's weird how the World Government would choose this random princess to become the World Nobel and became a Holy Knight.
I think it makes more sense that her mother was a Holy Knight and after the Kingdom of Esperia fell, she then took her daughter back to Marijoa, changed her daughter's name from Shuri to Gunko and trained her to become a Holy Knight.
Also if you look at Candel's design, she really gives off the appearance of a Holy Knight.
So yeah overall, I believe that Candel is part of the Manmayer Family and is a Holy Knight, that infiltrated the Kingdom of Esperia, married and had a child with the King, and then planned an attack at the Kingdom and also maybe forced her daughter to kill her father.
And then once everything was done, she and her daughter left back to Marijoa.
Also one last thing, if Candel is still alive, which she has to be, because if she is a Holy Knight, then she would have the immortality just like the others. But regardless, we know Gunko is not truly a evil person, and we know Oda will end up redeeming her.
But if her mom, Candel was the true mastermind, the main villain of Brook's flashback, and if she is still alive, then maybe Candel might be a future end of the series fight for Brook.
This might be Oda setting up a future Brook vs Candel fight.
Or I could be wrong about all this and maybe Candel is innocent.
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We already know that Brook has some history with the God's Knights, seeing how when he first saw Gunko, he already knew what rank she was.
The Candel situation was probably similar to what Garling did at God Valley and to the mother of his children.
We know that the Kingdom of Esperia fell, meaning it was most likely never affiliated with the World Government, at some point, Candel infiltrated the Kingdom and then joined the Royal Guard Corps became the Commander, and then eventually married the King and had a child with him.
Garling never loved the mother of his children, only used her to have kids to use as future members of the God's Knights, Candel was most likely the same thing, she never loved the King, and only used him to have a child, so that way her child can become a future member of the God's Knights.
Once Candel plan was set in motion, she then decided to launch an attack the Esperia Kingdom, where it probably became a hunting ground for the Celestial Dragons just like what happened at God Valley, either that or she simply ordered the Kingdom to be destroyed.
And remember that Brook calls Gunko, Father Killing Princess, he never says Father and Mother killing Princess, or even Parent Killing Princess.
If Gunko did kill her father, either Candel forced her daughter to kill him, or Candel got controlled by Imu, then used Domi Reversi on the King, and Gunko in an act of mercy ended up killing her father.
I don't know if I can believe the latter though.
Also unless there was something super special about Gunko, it's weird how the World Government would choose this random princess to become the World Nobel and became a Holy Knight.
I think it makes more sense that her mother was a Holy Knight and after the Kingdom of Esperia fell, she then took her daughter back to Marijoa, changed her daughter's name from Shuri to Gunko and trained her to become a Holy Knight.
Also if you look at Candel's design, she really gives off the appearance of a Holy Knight.

So yeah overall, I believe that Candel is part of the Manmayer Family and is a Holy Knight, that infiltrated the Kingdom of Esperia, married and had a child with the King, and then planned an attack at the Kingdom and also maybe forced her daughter to kill her father.
And then once everything was done, she and her daughter left back to Marijoa.
Also one last thing, if Candel is still alive, which she has to be, because if she is a Holy Knight, then she would have the immortality just like the others. But regardless, we know Gunko is not truly a evil person, and we know Oda will end up redeeming her.
But if her mom, Candel was the true mastermind, the main villain of Brook's flashback, and if she is still alive, then maybe Candel might be a future end of the series fight for Brook.
This might be Oda setting up a future Brook vs Candel fight.
Or I could be wrong about all this and maybe Candel is innocent.

Random Tags:
@Fujishiro @Kurozumi Wiwi @Mr. Reloaded @RayanOO @Tyki_Mikk @Doggo @TheAncientCenturion @Dragon777 @ZenZu @Sentinel @SDfear @kekaro @soupongo