That’s a good observation, about that scene playing into Leia somehow knowing Rey’s parentage. I’m not sure removing it would help the film’s overly fast pacing, though, as you’d have to smash from “We must find Exegol” to the Falcon’s fuel thing being uncoupled in closeup.
That little scene does establish that Rey is following Luke’s journal which is important to understand.
Even without the idea that Leia “knows,” the scene shows Leia’s misgivings about the darkness and/or inexperience that Rey senses within herself and fears.
I like it a lot, Sherlock.
Side note: would horizontally mirroring this scene break anything? The shots of Carrie are mirrored and I find it quite jarring; takes me out of the movie. Though I’d guess it’s not a big deal to anyone else.
But here’s a test: https://streamable.com/93t3fa
The only thing is that Rey flips the pages in the opposite direction (I have no problem with that though).