https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/i_became_the_male_lead_s_adopted_daughter/uu/br_chapter-125165/pg-2/
this kid, he's actually boy
Yes, the empress dresses the ML as a girl because he's actually her son with her boyfriend, not the emperor's. So, she's trying to keep him away from the power struggle and he rarely appears as the "princess" in the social circle because they've spread that the princess is really sick and can't go out. But when he's a lil bit grown, he acts as an escort knight to his mother so they can spend time together and he can get out of the palace.
for novel readers, can you please give me spoilers who end up with who? who's end up with leo?