c++ public inheritance not getting protected

#include <iostream>

class Base {
public:
    int publicVar;

    Base() : publicVar(10) {}

    void display() {
        std::cout << "Base::display() called. publicVar: " << publicVar << std::endl;
    }
};

class Derived : public Base {
};

int main() {
    Derived derivedObj;

    // Accessing publicVar directly from the derived object
    std::cout << "Accessing publicVar from derivedObj: " << derivedObj.publicVar << std::endl;

    // Calling display() method from the derived object
    derivedObj.display();

    return 0;
}