One of my in-development novels has a working title “Kedakai.” Set in feudal Japan near present day Yokohama, the novel is intended to be like a Disney-princess story, which examines moral virtue.
Kedakai’s origin chapter introduces her as a speechless orphan living wild in the forest. Young Lord Akamatsu, son of the local daimyo, has her captured and brought to him. This chapter is an exploration of non-verbal communication as she neither speaks nor understands language. Yet she learns to trust Akamatsu as he views her as a new pet.
As Kedakai becomes Akamatsu adopted daughter, she grows into a cultured lady but with a wild spirit at odds with the traditionalism of feudal Japanese culture. Akamatsu sees his wild child as protected by kami, so he accepts it as his duty to care for and protect her. However, he does not know that she has two secrets, one known to her and the other even she did not know.
Copilot created a sample image on Lord Akamatsu.
Jaycee Woods 
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