Girl Genius XVII: And Then He Had Pie

[Porthos]

I think Gil probably didn't *really* understand what was going to happen.

Oh, he probably did to some degree.

It think it might more be a situation where he had little choice. He was boxed in and trapped in a lab. Even if he broke out, then what? He couldn't even stage a coup against his father (presuming he'd even want to) since half the 'court' that Klaus keeps thinks Gil has been wasped. Maybe he could have escaped Castle Wulfenbach somehow, but then what? He was in a bad situation. He might not have been in checkmate, but it was pretty darn close.

Beyond that, Gil, in his arrogance, might have thought he could eventually work around his father's control. Push around the edges. Use this as a gambit to allow himself more movement on the board and 'help' where he could. Gil IS very self-assured after all. Klaus might have even counted on that self-assurance for Gil to accept the deal.