Curiosity, as any entertainment insider knows, can't be forced — only provoked. The scandal Aria had engineered ended up doing exactly that for Alex, dragging her name and history into public curiosity practically overnight. By that evening, "Alex Michell" was the single most searched term in the country, a fact that would have seemed impossible to her just two weeks earlier.
It was precisely the outcome Fidelia had been planning all along. Alex already had a solid reputation in New Bell and abroad, but her profile in Florelia itself had lagged behind. This entire mess, however unpleasant, had turned into free advertising — reminding an entire country of her name and making them curious enough to look her up themselves, exactly the kind of visibility money couldn't easily buy.
That curiosity translated directly into followers. Her official account gained new fans by the second, each new arrival further cementing the fact that she hadn't copied anything from anyone.
