I’m pretty sure she was just trying to humiliate princess Edith because she’s technically a royal and her reasons for everything was “for the emperor’s sake” she would probably just get a slap on the wrist at most for her punishment if not nothing at all plus it seems like most of the nobles (at least the ones around them) seem to like her more than Alicia due to her familial background and power ╮(￣▽￣)╭
If she had let Edith get full punishment while Edith had the backing of all nobility, her situation would have gone from bad to worse. At least with this, she comes off as benevolent, gracious and forgiving while at the same time, putting Edith in her place. She definitely gained much needed brownie points from that.
Wait I'm confused? Why did she act like that? Like in these palace politics when you apologize on behalf your enemy it's to remind others of their crime and make sure they atleast get punished. She did do the part of reminding others but what about princess Edith punishment!!!!