It’s been a while since I last colored a favorite scene in the manga version of Candy Candy, and this time I selected the episode in which Candy had just successfully escaped Neil’s trap in a remote place. However, while looking at the manga strip, I couldn’t decide which panel to color. 😉
The particular moment when Albert kissed Candy on the forehead has been a popular choice because it was the only time he kissed her in the entire manga. Unfortunately, those who have only watched the anime version often mistook this moment for the one that had taken place near Terry’s family villa in Scotland, so they assumed that was Terry. If we look closely, Albert kissed Candy when she had been crying out of frustration, feeling indescribably humiliated by Neil. 🙁
Nevertheless, it was a precious moment between Albert and Candy, and when he planted a soft kiss on her forehead, he said this was a magic spell to forget unpleasant things. He used the word Omajinai おまじない, which means a “good luck charm” as a noun, but sometimes it is similar to the word, abracadabra, which is a special word said by magicians when performing a magic trick. Hence, given the context, I think Albert wanted to cheer up Candy by casting a spell. Isn’t that cute? 😆
Contrary to the moments Neil forced a kiss on Candy’s cheek in a luxuriously furnished room or Terry unexpectedly kissed Candy while dancing, this time Candy looked so placid and calm at the very instant when Albert cast his spell. More importantly, I haven’t realized it before until now that Candy’s reaction afterwards was far from astonished. No staring in shock, no tears, no slapping each other, no screaming, etc. Not only that, her tears miraculously disappeared (did Albert wipe her tears?), and she seemed no longer emotionally troubled by what Neil had done to her earlier. Yes, Albert’s kiss (spell) brought a blush on Candy’s cheek, but that wasn’t very obvious and could be overlooked easily.
I can’t help wondering why Candy seemed inexplicably ‘composed’ as though Albert’s leaning forward to kiss her forehead was a very natural thing to happen at that point in time; note that she was actually happy that he had kissed her. Merely moments later, she smilingly pointed to her forehead and informed him that his ‘magic spell’ had worked effectively. As far as the manga shows, this was the only time Albert expressed his affection to Candy by more than a physical touch (hugging, for example). Is it possible that this wasn’t the first time he kissed her face? That it had happened before? Hmmm… 😉
Or as Candy said in Candy Candy Final Story, Albert had captured a special spot in her heart?
What do you think? 🙂
