Well. My personal theory is that when carte was about to be destroyed, Rao (leez dad) saved Asha and in return asked that if she ever meet a girl named kubera protect that girl. Proof: Leez remind her of him. And the only time we know for sure that Rao went to carte was to help the last evacuations. Also I think that he either was who summoned vayu, or used some kind of transcendental that cost him a lot of his lifeforce, which would explain him crying about wishing to see his daughter one more time on the ship returning from carte.
So while asha is a jerk, she really wants to protect leez, at first as a gratitude towards the man who saved her life and latter because she empathized with her and started to care for her
Yup, seems reasonable that's a possibility of how Asha originally became aware of Leez existence. Of course again, where others see coincidence in the timing of the meeting between Leez and Asha............the absolute perfect moment for a young, devastated child suddenly on her own to be presented with a "savior".......I see not coincidence but intentional manipulation.
Though as I said earlier, it's a matter of perception.........it's subjective. What some might see as manipulation, exploitation and betrayal....others might not. All those things, like beauty, are in the eye of the beholder. Like I said before, Leez might not accept that she's been betrayed at some point later in the story, but I as a reader might see it just that way.......that'll be my call to interpret whatever might happen if indeed some moment of truth actually comes.