@Amplify He only built the cabin so that the kids would be sheltered from the elements while they waited for a little bit to allow things to develop. He also needed to check the capital for rumours, wanted posters, and such. He was actually considering living in the capital as he would be more inconspicuous among the multitude of people there. Not a very smart plan, but he's not a very smart man.
Nobles aren't living everywhere. A tiny settlement couldn't necessarily support a parasite like a noble living on collected taxes. On the other hand, even if there was a noble, if it was a hated person, the MC could just off him if he caused trouble. The locals would be thankful. If whoever was the next step up in a bigger town still received his dues, he might not care. After all, sending troops to some godforsaken place would be expensive and dangerous, for no particular gain. If the MC instead made a small settlement prosper and grow bigger, thus earning more money for the higher noble overseeing the place from the provincial capital, they might just reward him with a noble rank of his own, to tie him down.