Certainly Ella never gets ordered around by any of the stories she reads, so I think you're right that it has to be an order directed at her. But a stop sign is a special case, as it is an order that everyone is supposed to be followed...

Maybe Ella should just count herself fortunate that she lives in a land without road signs. Otherwise the curse might get totally confused.

It is a really fun book! It's a good comfort read because it always cheers me up.