Public opinion can be a very crazy thing. It can be in your favor one minute, backing you up but then so easily, it can be turned around to bite you and condemn you. That is exactly what is happening right now.
Alicia was planning on using public opinions and sentiments to her advantage like she has always done. Using her beautiful face and body to entice people, using her tears and pitiful voice to make people side with her while condemning her opponent.
That was her plan. Since she'd tried to seduce Duke multiple times and failed, she was planning to make me jealous tonight. Her goal was to cause a rift between Duke and I, but when she saw that I wasn't falling for her nonsense like I used to, she switched her plan. If she couldn't have Duke, and couldn't build a wall between him and I either, she would ruin his reputation by making him out as a philanderer.
Such a schemer.