Klaus wanted to prove himself to Aleksandra. He decided to create a life for himself in this small town she was staying in. He had a house and was settled in, and was in town socializing with everyone in town when he saw Aleksandra. She was with two people Klaus suspected were the people who had taken her, as an orphan, in. The man walked over to near where he was standing. The woman Klaus was speaking to at the moment gestured to the man.
"This is Joseph. He is a friend of mine. Joseph, this is Klaus. He just arrived in town."
"Hello. Would you like to meet my wife and the orphan girl we've taken in?"
"I would, but I must be going..."
"Nonsense, it will only take a minute," he said to Klaus, then called to Aleksandra and his wife, whose name was Andrea.
"Pleasure to meet you," Aleksandra said when Joseph had introduced them.
"The pleasure is mine," Klaus said formally. "I must be off. I shall see you around town?"
"Yes," she replied before he went away.
"He is a nice man, it seems," Joseph was saying to Aleksandra when he left, thinking Klaus could not hear. "Perhaps he could be the husband you have been waiting for."
"I do not think he seems like the type to marry," Aleksandra replied indifferently.
"I think he seems like he fancies you," Andrea said.
"No, I do not think that is true either," Aleksandra said.
"Nonsense. I believe he shall make a great husband for you," Joseph said. "I shall invite him over our home tomorrow, and you can get to know him a bit better."
He arrived at Aleksandra's home the next day right on time. He found her sitting on the couch in the front room dutifully, but Klaus could tell by her rigid appearance she wasn't happy. He sat on the couch next to her and smiled, as he took her hand and kissed it. When Joseph wasn't looking, she jerked her hand away from him, keeping her face expressionless. Klaus and Joseph talked for a few minutes while Aleksandra sat silently. Then Klaus noticed her staring at Joseph. He got up and left the room.
"You compelled him," he accused of her.
"I compelled him so I could have a moment alone with you." Klaus smiled at her until she spoke again. "I need you to hear this, to understand this. I will sit through this meeting, as well as any other meeting Joseph sets up for us. I will make him happy by acting happy, and pretending to like you. I will even marry you if Joseph seems it fit. But remember this. I hate you, and always will."
"See the problem is, I don't believe you're capable of hating me forever. You're too nice. And despite what you think, I do care for you. And to prove it..." Klaus pulled out a silver box and opened it. Inside was a pretty bracelet with pink and silver beads. "I hear jewelry is the way to your heart," he said jokingly, but he glanced at her lapis lazuli bracelet Elijah had given to her all those years ago.
Joseph walked into the room then, and Aleksandra went back to her facade of happiness for his sake. The rest of the visit passed uneventful, and when Klaus left, he knew it was true. He cared for her, despite everything he said. His brother was right after all. Love was greater. But why did he have to care for the one his brother cared for?