Believe(A Mirror Mirror AU)(Possibly slow updates)

Chapter 3: From the Mouth of Babes

Asuna POV
I walked into the town at the edge of the bordering woods. It was there, where I thought that I could find the true state of the kingdom, under rule of my stepmother. The second I arrived I was shocked at how desolate the town seemed. I remembered coming here once with my father when I was young, the town had seemed so full of life and laughter that I had begged him to bring me again. Of course that was before he married the queen. I walked down the ruined cobblestone street, making sure that I kept my hood up just in case I was spotted by any integrity knights that didn't already know I was there. As I walked I felt a light tug on my dress. I looked down to see a young girl with long black hair and eyes. For a split second a certain mercenary popped into my mind  as looked into her dark eyes but I blushed and quickly shook it off.
"Please.... Do you have any food?" She asked me in a pitiful voice. I felt my heart tear and I nodded, reaching down to my bag where Fanatio had packed me some food. I handed the bag to her with a fragile smile.
"Here you go sweetie, this is all I have but if you and your family share it it might be enough for all of you." I said trying to keep my pain out of my voice. I knew that things were bad... but I never imagined... I felt a mixture of rage and pain as I looked around me a the starving people all around me- my people. This will not stand. I thought my expression hardening. Suddenly I felt a weight against my legs pull me out of my reverie. I looked down to see the little girl wrapped around my legs.
"Thank you.... I don't have a mommy or daddy so this should last forever!" She said in a small but excited voice and I felt my heart tear again. I bent down and pulled her into a hug. I don't know how I'm going to explain this and I don't care, she doesn't deserve to live like this. I thought feeling my rage boiling.
"How about this, you can come live with me, I promise you'll never have to go hungry again, does that sound good to you?" I asked offering her a kind smile. Her eyes widened and she threw her arms around my neck.
"I'll take that as a yes." I said with a small laugh as she buried her head in my neck. After a minute she pulled away and I asked her what her name was.
"It's Yui!" She said with a bright smile and I felt myself fill with warmth for the little girl.
"Well Yui, my name is Asuna, can you say Asuna?" I asked her with a fond smile. She paused for a moment before saying, "Auna?" I smiled at her and said, "Maybe it's a little hard, how about you call me whatever's easier for you?" Yui looked down for a moment seeming to be considering something before looking back up at me and grinning brightly.
"Mommy!" She exclaimed reaching her arms out to me. The tears that I had been holding back tore down my face as I laughed and nodded.
"That's right Yui, I'm mommy." I said gripping her in a tight embrace. And I'm not going to let what happened to you happen to anyone else. Not in my kingdom.