A Talking Key

Or a gentleman's idle sleep deprived thoughts

I've been catching up with WHA theories after binging the manga and as much as I think the Qifrey clone theory has great potential I think it would be hilarious if Iguin was Olruggio slash Olruggio's clone

I have like maybe five ideas that could somewhat kinda lowkey back that up (such as Iguin and Olruggio both being the ones to spark Coco's love for magic with the glowstone path (> though that's 100% more of a parallel between Olruggio's pure intent of helping people and Iguin's intent to manipulate a child into doing what they want and a way to introduce the brimhat's questionable methods) and design similarities) but it's loose as all heck compared to the Qifrey clone theory

1. Angelic design A fairly obvious one. I really enjoy how his design takes the shapes of madeleines and repurposes them as wings in some aspects (such as with his headpiece, or his shields taking on the shapes of wings).

But the most interesting part for me is that such an obviously angelically designed character has a personality that does not fit the image it gives. With the whites, the golds, and the blue accents, and being a paladin I'd expect Madeleine to fit the justice-driven, golden child, loving and compassionate stereotype but he's perfectly incompetent. He's self-centered, prideful, isn't ready to tarnish his reputation unless someone he explicitly cares about (Espresso) drives him to do so (by complimenting him, funnily enough) and isn't shown to care for others on anything other than a superficial level (Espresso excluded), such as when Financier was shown bringing in food for orphans and all he thought of he himself doing for them was to "be a role model" for them. No action, all words, which makes his development at the end of the Odyssey, when he starts taking action for himself, quite satisfying. If anything, Madeleine's personality is more befitting a demonic figure, despite it mostly being driven from ignorance. Pure to a fault, in a way (somewhat). Although I'm intending on making a longer post about this, Espresso and Madeleine were likely designed as a duo and their designs and personality reflect this angel/demon aspect to me. Espresso is designed and built in a way that makes him scary, even demonic, (with the eye motif and dark colors for example) while Madeleine is designed in a way that should make him the approachable, kind character. But Espresso is more befitting an angel with his wish to protect cookiekind with his scientific research while Madeleine is more befitting a demon with his self-centeredness and thoughtless speech. The Crimson Knight costume plays into the angel/demon theme he seems to have going on for him. Which, once more, I love. Madeleines are also shaped like shells which ties in to the Crème Republic itself with the Vanillian as well as sea heritage ! There is so much more I could say about this but I'll keep it as that for now.

2. Vanillian descent This is just a detail I've noticed that I really enjoy about Mansion Madeleine.

As you can see below the blue-pink-purple-yellow shape found in the Solarium of Unity and Council meeting room of the Vanilla Kingdom is almost the same as the stained glass of Mansion Madeleine. The only real difference is the shape and the colors being tilted to the left. And there are also the blue shapes on either side of the stained glass resembling Pure Vanilla's Soul Jam ! Elements of Vanillian descent being so present in the Madeleine mansion is such a good way of reminding where their heritage lies.

3. Potential French references A bit of a tangent on Grand Madeleine. This is likely a stretch but personally, the statue of Grand Madeleine present at Mansion Madeleine reminds me of the romantic french painting by Eugène Delacroix, La Liberté guidant le peuple (1830).

Once more, I'm going to stretch things quite a bit but this painting being associated with the French Revolution makes me believe that Grand Madeleine may have played a role in establishing the Republic. Not founding it, seeing as House Madeleine isn't one of the Great Houses and she isn't in the Council of Elders.

Then there's also, more obviously, the origin of the madeleine, which takes its roots in northeastern France, if I remember correctly. The royal blue color being the color which appears to be symbolical of the Madeleine house in the Crème Republic, seeing as no other Elder or house has nearly as much of it, also reminds me of french royalty. More generally, it seems to me that the Crème Republic has French inspirations (such as recurring fleur de lis designs, the name itself being taken from the word "cream" in French) as well as other European (English for example, with House Scone), Greek and Latin inspirations (notably with the architecture and the way the Council of Elders work).

Grand Madeleine's attitude regarding the Elders, the Republic's tendency for shaming anyone that 'steps out of line' in general, and the mention of her likely having been a great paladin with awards and such makes me believe she is well-respected and well-known enough to go against the Elders and still keep a pristine reputation. Notably with her encouraging Light Cream and inviting her over despite the fact that House Scone has fallen from grace. I'm straying from the main topic here, but the fact that Madeleine also seems to have inherited some of Grand Madeleine's accessories (such as her shield) points to the fact that House Madeleine may have a bloodline of paladins. The mansion resembling a church (notably with the stained glass and huge windows) also showcases their strong tie to religion and the Light/Divine in my opinion.

4. The Light's favorite (?) Despite Madeleine's less than compassionate attitude, he still is blessed by the Light and was chosen to become a paladin. This, as well as his angel design, the angel wings he's shown to have when activating his skill in Cookie Run: Ovensmash, and his shields taking on the shapes of wings when activating his skill in Cookie Run Kingdom makes me believe that, for some reason, Madeleine is the Divine's favorite.

The way people praise him despite his lack of competence also stirs me this way, although I have a lot more to say about that point in particular, which I'll develop in a later post. Not even Financier, who is a much more competent, compassionate and willing to learn paladin has a design that reflects any favoritism from the Light, or any angelic features bestowed by the Light. Kouign-Amann is in the same situation, being a much better paladin but nowhere shown as favored. I also like how his self-centered personality is shown through his skill with healing himself only and how the Light grants a shield to him and only him, whereas Financier shields someone with her. He so is the favorite. I wonder why.

(Note that Madeleine's Power of the Light is his Magic Candy buffed skill, whereas Financier's is her basic skill).

Anyways he's a Devsisters favorite as well as mine, so I'm happy and well-fed.