Using Boost-Beast (Asio) http client with SSL (HTTPS)

I am new to SSL and the Boost-Beast library, and also C++, but thats a different story. I have a question regarding using HTTPS (SSL) with Beast. I am going to use the library to connect to a REST service and post JSON to a server where I do not control the certificates, the api etc.

And it kind of works. The thing is that I do not clearly understand HOW it works. In the example that comes with Beast it is referenced to a file "example/common/root_certificates.hpp" where it is two certificates in base64 format or somthing like that.

When I tried the example, I got it to work with with POST a JSON string to a server, lets call it "exampleserver.com". Conntected to both port 80 and 443. Even though I commented out the line where it calls the root certificate funtion, "load_root_certificates(ctx);". No errors from handshaking or anything else showed up. And the server responded correctly.

So, my questions are then:

1) Did the Beast library get the certificate from "exampleserver.com" or did I already have it installed and thats why it worked? If so what happens when it expires? Do I have to reinstall a new one on every client that uses my application? I would prefer to not have any hardcoded certificates in my code to check it upon. The certificate says "DigiCert Global Root CA -> DigiCert SHA2 Secure Server CA" is that a standard certificate maybe that comes with the browser?

2) Did it just use plain http over port 443 (no SSL)? Don know if this is possible at all...

Thanks!