Well, she is wise beyond her years, being that she's 56+ years old mentally due to her past lives. She lived 26 years from her previous life as a Korean woman, 30 years in the first timeline, then went back into the past 10 years.
She retains both knowledge of the modern world, the current world, plus Knowledge of the future and let's not forget the smartphone, which is basically a portable library.
When you have all those unfair advantages, of course, she going to be smarter than all those people in the stupid ages of Victorian times.
And I'm saying that's why I find Nera much more impressive, despite Iris's unfair advantages at her disposal.
Although I don't approve of her evil deeds, I find Nera's cunningness, and resourcefulness to keep Iris on her toes every step of the way without any advantages to be far more interesting, and impressive for someone who's actually 20 years of age in that time era.
If only she could've her intelligence for good, she could've been the next Susan B. Anthony or something similar of that nature. What a waste of an intelligent woman.
I loved reading this and I really loved iris character!she’s so strong and smart