Who Stole The Empress

【WSA Newbie 2025 Entry】 "Stripped of his power, betrayed by those he trusted, and abandoned by fate itself, the young master of the Celestial Clan faces a choice: cling to the tattered remnants of his righteous path or to embrace the darkness blooming within. When a catastrophic fall strips him of everything, he, along with his fiancée by his side, abandons the righteous path. Witness the birth of an anti-protagonist couple, as they forge contracts with ancient, terrifying beasts and carve a new destiny from the bones of their enemies." In the heart of the Azure Star Continent lies the legendary Celestial Clan, rulers of an unbroken legacy of power, wealth, and influence. At its helm stands Xian Tianyang, a prodigy born with unparalleled talent and destined to inherit the mantle of leadership. Calm, calculating, and relentless, Tianyang has forged a reputation as an unshakable force, a young master whose genius is rivaled only by his ambition. But the path to supremacy is fraught with danger. In a continent where alliances shift like desert sands and rival factions sharpen their blades, Tianyang must navigate a world of intrigue and betrayal. When his childhood fiancée, Lin Yuqing, the “Blooming Empress” of the Eternal Bloom Clan, enters his life, their union threatens to spark both alliances and rivalries that could reshape the continent. With ancient secrets lurking in the shadows, enemies plotting from every corner, and the weight of his family’s legacy on his shoulders, Tianyang must prove that he is more than just a prodigy—he is the heir to the Celestial Throne. Will their fates intertwine as destined rulers, or will the fires of ambition and duty tear them apart? Prepare for a tale of genius, power, and forbidden emotions, where every choice has the power to change the fate of nations. Disclaimer! Please read Auxiliary Volume 0 for important information to better understand the setting, characters, techniques, cultivation realms, bloodlines, beast levels, and contracts.

When she was giving birth, she learnt that her husband actually loved her sister. For her sister, he wouldn't hesitate to cast her into hell. Everyone looked down on her. Yet they didn't know, she had already caught the eye and captured the heart of another man, a man of overwhelming power...

Fame. Money. Love. All of this, Joe had for eighteen years, of his life. Until a tragic accident happened before the peak of his football career. Which destroyed it in only a few seconds. When everyone loved him, they left him alone, broken in a hospital bed. Before he could come back, he lost the last members of his family. Then his former club comes with allegations, of a broken contract from his fault, and he lost all the earned money. He was left, with nothing. For eight years, he lived from day to day studying, working, having rehabilitation for his injured knee. As they say, what one time is taken, is given back. As he accidentally becomes secretary of Megan Clark by everyone called Empress. His life changed drastically after it. He found love in his boss, who first say these words to him. ‘Secretary of the Empress’ is a story about love, which slowly grows in the main characters. Because of many things which they will meet in their journey of revenge and protecting each other. -------------------- While now great view on sky and city below show up, boss turned to me, and when she looked at my eyes, she said: “Joe, I have something to tell you.” “Yes, boss,” I said while looking at her eyes, and when she walked closer to me, we looked at each other eyes. She said, “I like you.” While hearing her words, I had no answer for this, and while I looked at her, I asked, “excuse me?” “I love you, I want you to be my boyfriend,” she said, and while I looked at her, I couldn’t believe that this has happened, and while my mind still processed her words, she looked at me, and then she said, “so what is your answer?” ------------------------- Daily upload at 8:30 and 18:00(server time) The cover is not mine.

In a land where Juju fuels life and prophecy shapes destinies, Sobekana stands on the brink of collapse. An ancient evil rises, plunging it into chaos. Caught in the storm is Aziza, a young warrior burdened by secrets she doesn't fully understand. With allies as unpredictable as the forces they face, she must navigate betrayal, sacrifice, and a world unraveling around her. Aziza must decide: will she defy fate, or let it consume her?

After meeting an unfortunate death on earth, Sigrid unwillingly transmigrated into a novel world becoming Lady Sigrid Thorin the unwanted wife of the crown prince. She resigned herself to her fate and set a goal to become the empress. But to become the future empress, she had to gain the heart of her husband_the foul tempered Prince Roland Maximus a man that loathed her and would sooner kill her than kiss her. While his heart was too thin for her to squeeze into, it was rather wide for the woman he brought home on returning from a three month expedition, a woman he had sworn to protect forever. The same woman Sigrid was on a mission to destroy, an irreconcilable enemy. With misunderstandings, scheming and jealousy, thus begun Sigrid's trials to win the heart of the man that had undeniably captivated her with his dazzling smile and her mission step over the fake female lead, be crowned empress and change her fate. Excerpt. "A knife to the throat of your husband that has just returned from war, what do you hope to accomplish crown princess?" Sigrid's eyes trailed down, to the silver blade pressed against her abdomen, she raised her head and laughed snidely. "A knife to the belly of your wife as soon as you return from war, other men start by saying, honey i am home. They also don't bring home unwanted canaries as presents for their wives." Roland leaned down with a part smug and part angry smoldering look in his eyes. It was if he wished to set her on fire, and not in the passionate way. "Honey i am home." he slowly said, dragging the words out. Sigrid trailed the knife slowly over his neck, almost as if she was caressing it with her fingers. "Welcome back, i hope you don't mind but i intend to kill that canary. If you want to bring me a gift next time, try gold and diamonds. I can also accept you, just wrap a ribbon around your bare chest."

A man rejected by the will of the world he grew up in for all of his life, and a genius with infinite potential who fell as a result of making a risky bet. Under the machinations of the deceased Heavenly Emperor, Huang Xian, two unfortunate souls from entirely different worlds got saved and fused together into a new whole, adopting the identity of the latter–Theodore Winter, the heir to one of the Supreme Pillars of the Heavenly Court. As an eon-spanning competition to decide the next generation of Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress began, it brought with it a game of wits, power and plots that would shake the Heavenly Court to its core. Reincarnators, Transmigrators and Regressors were barely qualified to chase after the unprecedented monsters that had been brought into being for the express purpose of rising above the rest. Battles between peers were like peeling an onion–nobody ever knew just how many cultivation realms and Talents the other had hidden away to catch his opponents off guard. With a saint-like image and the heart of a devil, Theodore Winter entered the fray. Unbeknownst to all, other than returning triumphantly, he was entrusted with another task: To kill Huang Xian’s murderer–his wife, the Heavenly Empress! ------------------------- Read advance chapters (by paying for my meals) on Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/sh1ro My novel series "Reincarnation Cycle's Unfortunate Bug" on Amazon: • https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYHGRR8M/ Discord Server (currently under construction): • https://discord.gg/NdAjjmXSDh ------------------------- Hi there, this is Shiro / the author. Just one little cautionary warning here: Due to being set in an entirely alternate world from ours, while some terms and concepts might seem familiar at first glance, many in actuality are not. In canon, the World's Will of a world exactly like our own 'got inspired' by memories that it secretly glimpsed from the Heavenly Emperor, thereby creating extremely loosely related concepts in its own universe. So never expect anything to work in the same way as something that you are already familiar with, because chances are very high that it won't be the same at all. (Yes, I just blatantly flipped the script.) I hope you'll enjoy The Heavenly Empress' Assassin! ------------------------- Current Release Schedule: • 5 chapters per week • 1 chapter every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (at ~11 p.m. GMT+1) (More chapters can appear as bonus chapters, so this is the absolute minimum.) • Vote with Power Stones to read more chapters in the week after the results are in! -> Top 100: +1 chapter -> Top 50: +2 chapters -> Top 10: +3 chapters -> Top 5: +4 chapters -> 1st Place: +5 chapters - Chapter length: ~2k words on average

Book 2 of The Nochten trilogy. Five years have passed since the dreaded letter and Ana is now 12 years old. She continues to face the challenges in court, meanwhile, more support grows in favor of her cousin Mykhol. But as foreign invaders, the Bulgeons, encroach on their colonies with more than pillaging in mind, Ana must turn for aid in one of the last remnants of her mother's court, Admiral Nugen. The only human at court who may have more than a sense of duty to stay by Ana's side. Meanwhile, back in Dawny, Prince Nicoli struggles to find a way back into Ana's life after five years of silence on her end. Ever determined to reunite with his half-sister, he comes up with an ingenious plan that just has to work, despite Mykhol's and Queen Belinda's best wishes. But Queen Belinda has her own tricks up her sleeve and a resentment that only grows not against Ana but King Alexander, himself, who must choose between his children. Will Ana be able to manage these new challenges? And what about the strange rumors running around about Mykhol and her? Why is there talk of marriage? Secret engagements, a hidden love child, and a broken trust still loom over, doesn't Ana have enough to deal with?

"Any who don the title of 'king' or anything of the sort in my presence is nothing more than an ignorant fool. This is my land and I shall be reclaiming it soon. I am Cacophony, the Vampire Empress!" As those words left her lips, every cell in my body reacted. It was unreal—no, it was otherworldly. Her beauty, her power, and her overwhelming arrogance. It might've been then that I realized that my normal life had ended. How did it come to this? Ah, it was curiosity. Yes, a deathly curiosity brought me to that graveyard that day. It was there that I stumbled upon her coffin. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing then, and even now I have no idea what possessed me to touch it—that single moment changed the course of history for the entire world. I found myself delving into a completely unknown world. Should I regret it? Maybe. But the truth is, I don't. Exploring the world’s hidden secrets, forging unexpected bonds, and living alongside the revived empress—it’s exciting. "Even if it's wrong, I think I'm going to enjoy every moment of it."

When he opened his eyes, he found himself stuck inside a fictional world as an extra. But this world didn’t quite seem right. Main characters could be found at every turn on the streets. Ring Grandpas could be traded back and forth! What appeared to be cliches at first look turned out to be seven-layers deep schemes. Kingdom-toppling beauties harbored horrifying secrets. Harem seeking protagonists were being played like fiddles on their fingers! And on top of it all, heavens seemed to hate his guts with a passion. He was cursed by their design at every step! So he wanted to return the favor by overthrowing the celestial court. “Since this is a world of extremes, I will prove how extreme an extra can be! I will overturn heaven and earth, wreaking such havoc that whoever made me transmigrate here shall regret!” And the first step towards this goal, of course, was to radicalize and control all the characters who had the protagonist halo. It was all purely a result of coincidences that a bunch of crazy yandere women fell into obsession, ahem, ahem! Additional Tags: Time Travellers, Transmigrators, Reincarnators, Regressors, Machiavellian Characters, Ruthless Schemers, Villainous MC, Multiple Timelines, Paradoxes, Extensive Worldbuilding, System, Survival, Yanderes, Overpowered Female Leads, Enemies To Lovers, Villainesses, No NTR or Yuri, Mysterious Past, Bloodlines, Multiple Power Systems, Politics, Older Love Interests, Master-Disciple Relationship, Wholesome Relationships, Kingdom Building.

[If you are looking for a slow romance, you can give it a check if not, you'll be disappointed] Aera, a young 28-year-old was about to make her dream debut by opening her own floral shop that could be shipped in and around. Nevertheless, things didn't go as she planned. One would say that transmigrating to a book sound like a fantasy, however to Aera, it became a nightmare when she woke up in an unknown world even when she hasn't died yet. With an unexpected turnout, her life was hanging by a thin thread. Aera was presented with an option-either she goes back to her world with her memory erased or enter the other world, and comes back with the memory intact to have her revenge. Never did she expect of choosing the worst villain of all. A character in a book where she killed the Empress and her unborn child. Worst, the male lead was reborn time after time with his memory intact. His grudge still hung on torturing the villainess. Even more worst, the ML was a split image of her long-time crush. ----- "Do you hate me that much?" As soon as the question was raised, a table lamp flew past through the said person, smashing against the wall behind him. "More than enough to kill you right now." The female figure responded with nothing but hatred and disgust in her tone. Her jewel eyes that glow under the dark never left her gaze on the other male person who was sitting on her opposite. ----- The male lead wasn't the only one Aera had to put a guard on but even other characters when one after the other began to make an appearance. The more the flow gets out of the plot the more twisted it gets. Her only goal was to survive so she could go back home.  P.S:- English is not my first language and I am weak in grammar. I'll be happy to receive either a critics or feedback or comments...^-^ Please do give it a read till chapter 3 or above to get the clear picture.

A high school student who believes that reality is merely an illusion begins to witness strange and unexpected events as the school year starts. At first, he assumes these occurrences are just tricks of his own mind, but over time, he starts to realize that there is a deeper and more mysterious truth behind them. While the people around him seem lost in the mundanity of everyday life, he is keenly aware that something is not quite right.

Summary: Everyone Knows Her as Myrcella Baratheon The Daughter Of Cersei Lannister and Officially Robert Baratheon But What Happens During a Meeting Robert Drunkenly Mentioned The Empress? The One Who Approves Of Every Decision From Each House? The One Who Is Known and Feared Deeply Across The Lands? One Of Her Titles Is "The Empress Of Raging Storms" But Why Does The Empress Look Like Myrcella? Why Does Cersei Have These Knowing Smiles Whenever She Looks at Her Daughter? Is Myrcella Who She Claims to Be Or Is She The Legendary Empress That Is Above The Iron Throne?

When a terminally ill young man awakens in the world of his favorite childhood game, he realizes he isn’t the protagonist, the destined hero, or even a major side character. Instead, he has become an extra—a disowned noble barely clinging to relevance in a world where strength determines everything. Worse, his fate in the game was to die an early, meaningless death. Armed with only his knowledge of the game’s storyline and a common system that tracks his stats and skills, he is determined to survive. But mere survival isn’t enough. He remembers a hidden easter egg from a long-forgotten anime collaboration: the Mangekyō Sharingan—a power limited by game mechanics but unrestricted in reality. With Kamui as his trump card, he walks the fine line between fate and freedom, seizing power from the shadows while avoiding suspicion. As the protagonist and his allies battle against demons and unravel the game’s grand destiny, he secretly builds his own strength—manipulating events, mastering forgotten arts, and even forging ties with villainous factions. Will he remain a footnote in history, or will he carve his own legend in a world that was never meant to be his?

Betrayed by her fiancé and best friend, Feng Ruoyan, a prodigy with a single fire spiritual root, dies tragically in a conspiracy. However, fate gives her a second chance—she is reborn three years before her downfall! With her memories intact, she vows to change her destiny, uncover hidden secrets, and take revenge on those who wronged her. But the road to power isn't easy. To survive, she takes on thrilling adventures, seeking a lost Magical Space rumored to house heaven-defying treasures. Along the way, she forms an unexpected bond with a mischievous Fire Dragon cub, who becomes both her companion and a source of endless trouble. Her journey entangles her with powerful men— The Mysterious Headmaster, who sees through her secrets. The Peerless Senior Brother, a noble genius who has always protected her. The Ruthless Demon Lord, who finds her interesting despite himself. The Enigmatic Buddha Star Lord, whose wisdom tests her resolve. And many more! will Ruoyan rise like a phoenix, or will fate repeat itself?

Lili a 4 year old girl finds herself thrust upon an unexpected adventure that will make her into a Goddess by accident.

"Oh, My beloved Scarlet flame... Burn to your heart's content!" "Your wicked embers soothe and mend my broken heart and shattered spirit." "On that day, you took everything from me." "Tell me..." "Divine Emperor, do you regret it now?" "As your cities and people burn?" "Divine Emperor!" "This Regina el Ingnus is no longer weak or afraid!" "Her Scarlet Flames of Wrath will judge your sins." A woman staggered forward, tripping on burning rubble, her bloodstained hands slipping as she tripped. Her luscious hair was blonde like the radiant sun, while her eyes were like the blue sea. She stood frozen as the merciless flames danced across her eyes as if mocking her survival and weakness. Her body was still, watching silently as her beautiful village burned. All that remained was a ruined village bathing in the everlasting fires of avarice. All because she was a Holy Maiden. They were a blessed existence to the Kingdom, a cursed existence to the Empire. They were known as the Holy Maiden to the Holy Church of Amora, Goddess of the moon and fertility. But merely known as the Whore of Sin to the Empire and their Divine Son, rumoured to be descendants of the God of the sun and Justice. The Holy Maiden was an existence that was born only once in every 2,000,000 people. A Holy maiden had a powerful affinity for all magic, and increased physical capabilities, usually appearing as an ethereal and charming woman with both male and female reproductive organs. However, they were infertile due to a curse. The Divine Son was born the same year as the Holy Maiden. The Goddess Amora and the God Zelmot were bitter enemies, constantly at war; after suffering a close defeat, Zelmot created a curse that would torment all future Holy Maidens. As if to spite the goddess of fertility, Zelmot stained her beloved daughters with the curse of infertility. In revenge, Amora cursed the Divine Son of Zelmot. He would become enchanted and fall deeply in love with the Holy Maiden, eventually growing insane with their love towards her. The ancient texts rumoured that if the Divine Son lost to the Holy Maiden, he would become a female forever devoted to the Maiden. But if the Holy Maiden were to lose, she would lose her ability to use magic and become frail and hideous, like a monster. When the Divine Church of Justice learned of this truth, they began to hunt down ALL that displayed similarities with the Holy Maiden; this dark period of the Empire... Its given name was "The Purge of the Red Moon" After its 3,000-year history, the Kingdom has failed to protect and save a single Holy Maiden from death, abuse, torture or torment. Their only achievement was to stop the Divine Son from being the killer. In contrast, the Empire still worships the Divine Son's return each time one is born. At this moment, the Empire rode away, convinced of another victory. However, a female figure shambled forward with bated breath and a broken heart. Regina El Ignis, heiress of Baron Maxim El Ignis. Lord of the small village and land surrounding Ignia, bordering the Empire. She stumbled forward, Taking her first steps as the Holy Maiden of Scarlet Flames. "Alceste, my beloved... can you hear my lament, feel my love for you as I cut down our enemies?" The maiden stands on a pile of burnt corpses, her body twirling as if dancing on their corpses, a twisted smile upon her face. Armed with a giant black sword and scarlet flames, seven women wielding various magic accompany her as she steps forward like a fairy of brutal death. "They call me the Scarlet Empress of Obsession..." "However, My dear witches of calamity! I became Empress only for you~."

After making a crazy wish, Judie Willard realizes that wishes do come true. After receiving a project to write on the ancient Chinese empire, Judie can't seem to get it straight. In frustration, she wishes that she could go back in time to find out about the ancient China. But what Judie doesn't expect, is to actually wake up in the Xu Mansion—The house of a very reputable family in Wind City. But what's even worse, is that Judie has to be married to the crown price, Xue Qianxun, who may or may not hate her. Going against all odds, he marries Judie who is now known as Xu Quingyan. But when her husband invites in another concubine, and throws her to the side, Xu Quingyan is left to think. Will she stand still and watch herself become a side character, or will she fight as the empress that she is?

Newly promoted Agent Alenna Mondreal has spent years chasing criminals, but her latest mission is unlike any other. Tasked with dismantling an underground drug empire, she is given a new priority—hunt down Valen Grey, a dangerous and elusive man with ties to the most powerful crime syndicates. But Valen isn’t just another target. Charming, calculating, and always one step ahead, he isn’t the ruthless criminal she expected. As their paths collide in a high-stakes game of pursuit and deception, Alenna finds herself torn between duty and desire. The deeper she digs into his world, the more she questions her own. Is Valen truly the villain she was sent to capture, or is there something far more sinister lurking in the shadows? Caught between justice and forbidden temptation, Alenna must make an impossible choice: follow the law she swore to uphold—or surrender to the man she was meant to take down.

the golden empress ev faces the betrayel of her beloved ones. after that she lost her parents ,her freinds and her happiness after 4000 years she again took the courage to trust some one and more .with the evil raising again will she use the help of her husbands or not

Falling for his warm touch despite his usual coldness, she loved him only to be disappointed and betrayed in the end. When love turns to darkness, it festers to be poisonous and consumes the soul. The naïve Arabella evolved. *** “Thank you for becoming my wife,” was her cold husband’s last words before he died, coupled with a smile that had never before graced his lips. Not on their wedding day. And not even at the birth of their only child. Emperor Ferdinand, someone Arabella loved so much, killed their son. She became a villainess and vowed revenge for her beloved child. For a decade, she used everything she could to make Ferdinand pay. Until finally… he fell to ruin! With her revenge complete, Arabella's life soon ended with her dead husband in her arms. But fate wasn’t done playing with her. All of a sudden, she was back two decades ago right after their wedding. Was it a curse or a blessing? It didn’t matter. Because there is only one thing she needed to do. “I will ruin you in this lifetime too!” This was her hateful promise to herself upon realizing she was reborn. But in her second life, Arabella was unexpectedly bestowed a gift to uncover the truth. Who was wrong and who was right? Only time will tell.

born as a perfect human lab and become a killing machine with no emotions has dreams of a fantasy world from children's books because it is something she never knew died betrayed by her own father then reincarnated as a princess but the world she dreamed of did not match her expectations destruction, war, non-acceptance witness the story of Elliz in changing the world even she has to become a tyrant

“I might be the God to whom all bow, but she is the Goddess whom this God worships." ... Cathain De Valerian Valentino, the emperor of the Valentino Empire, was reborn in the modern world, his empress by his side, yet she retained no memories of their previous, tragic life. What unfolds when a plane crash sends them hurtling back to the past, to the era of the esteemed Valentino Empire, and everything begins to change than the past he remembered? Is Cathain capable of protecting his empress, who is oblivious to this enchanted realm, while unraveling the mysteries of their sorrowful past? Or will all be lost once she regains her memories? Because no matter how gentle and soft he is with her now, he can't erase the obsessed and possessive man from her memories... the man who was the reason of the fall of her family, the death of her children... And the man who had executed her with his own hands, … Season 01: Saving The Abandoned Empress (Completed- 220 Chapters)

Evelina Aurelius was meant to be the villainess—obsessed with Prince Cassius, cruel to the heroine Seraphina, and destined for ruin. But when she reincarnates with memories of her past life, she refuses to play along. She ignores the prince. She walks away from Seraphina. And instead of falling, she rises. Now, Cassius is chasing her. Seraphina is desperate to reclaim her lost role. And the kingdom’s most powerful nobles are watching her every move. But Evelina isn’t just here to survive. She’s here to win. And when a mysterious man in black enters the game, she realizes… She’s not the only one rewriting fate. ---

In a kingdom where love is a death sentence, Empress Seraphina rules with an iron heart. Cursed by an accident spell, any love she dares to feel will bring ruin to her throne. Cold, untouchable, and feared by all, she buries her desires beneath a mask of power. But everything changes when a mysterious warrior, Ronan, arrives at her court-his presence igniting a fire she cannot control. He is bold, unyielding, and worst of all... immune to the curse. As forbidden passion simmers between them, dark forces gather, whispering of treachery and fate. Seraphina must decide: will she risk her kingdom for love, or will she become the heartless ruler destiny demands? Because in this game of power and desire, surrendering to love might not just cost her throne-it might cost her life.

The demon balzyed now reincarnated as a young human hero aims to become a god by defying heaven.

Isabella had only been reading a novel to pass the time—a tragic tale of a cold-hearted villainess who schemed against the beloved heroine, only to meet a fiery and untimely demise. But when Isabella wakes up in the body of that same villainess, she finds herself thrust into a world of wealth, intrigue, and betrayal. However, there’s a twist: she has been transported three years before the catastrophic fire that claimed the villainess’s life. Armed with her knowledge of the novel’s events and outcomes, Isabella quickly realizes this is her chance to rewrite the story—and her fate. But things aren’t as simple as she expected. The family she thought would be indifferent to her turns out to be doting and genuinely loving. Her father, the intimidating Duke Allard, is protective, while her mother is tender and supportive. Even her siblings, who despised the villainess in the novel, shower her with affection. Confused by these discrepancies, Isabella realizes that she must navigate this new world carefully. With her family’s love in her corner, she sets out to change her destiny. She focuses on building alliances, avoiding the pitfalls of the original plot, and proving to the world that she is not the scheming villainess they expect her to be. But her journey is anything but easy. The adopted sister who was once the darling of the household begins to plot against her, jealous of Isabella’s newfound warmth and attention. Meanwhile, the mysterious male lead—who was supposed to fall for the heroine—becomes drawn to Isabella’s unexpected kindness and sharp wit. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, Isabella must use her wit, courage, and the love of her family to carve out a new path. But with the looming fire that sealed the villainess’s fate in the original story, can she truly escape the shadow of her past and find happiness in a world that was never meant to be hers?

Ophelia von Aubessec, an Empress ruling over millions gets slain. Regressing back to her body 300 years ago, she sets her sights on getting revenge on the forces who had managed to kill her. By using her knowledge of the future, she builds her own Empire, wins back the lovers she lost, and discovers the secrets of the system she had been provided. --------- This is a dark novel and IT IS HAREM. However, it may travel more into a polygamous relationship due to the complications of a harem. There are also R18 scenes sprinkled about, so please read responsibly.